{"id":265416,"date":"2016-11-05T14:00:55","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T14:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=265416"},"modified":"2016-11-05T14:00:55","modified_gmt":"2016-11-05T14:00:55","slug":"thousands-urge-south-korea-president-to-quit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/11\/thousands-urge-south-korea-president-to-quit\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands urge South Korea President to quit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thousands of South Koreans have taken to the streets of the capital, Seoul, to demand the resignation of President Park Geun-hye over a corruption row.<\/p>\n
A long-time friend, the daughter of a cult leader, is accused of undue influence over the president.<\/p>\n
Choi Soon-Sil is alleged to have pushed businesses to donate millions of dollars to foundations she controlled, helped choose presidential aides, and even picked the president’s clothes.<\/p>\n
Ms Park apologised on TV on Friday.<\/p>\n
Ms Park was close to tears as she addressed the nation, and said the scandal involving her confidante Ms Choi was “all my fault”.<\/p>\n
The president admitted that she had let Ms Choi edit her speeches.<\/p>\n
Ms Choi was arrested on Thursday and charged with fraud and abuse of power.<\/p>\n
Some 40,000 demonstrators were expected to attend the rally in central Seoul, watched over by 20,000 police officers. Water cannon are in evidence on the capital’s streets.<\/p>\n
Organisers say that as many as 100,000 may join the protest.<\/p>\n
Dozens of police buses are parked by City Hall, and near a square which will be closed to stop protesters marching on the Blue House, the president’s official residence.<\/p>\n