SEOUL, South Korea �� One of South Korea's biggest anti-government protests in decades has heightened pressure on President Park Geun-hye to resign over an influence-peddling scandal.
Hundreds of thousands of people filled downtown Seoul Saturday, a sight comparable to the 1987 pro-democracy rally that led the country's military leaders to adopt direct presidential elections. The demonstration near government buildings, embassies and business headquarters was the largest since rallies began last month after Park first apologized for allowing a friend, Choi Soon-sil, access to government documents.
The large turnout adds to pressure on opposition parties to push for Park's impeachment, which would lead to an election within 60 days.
Park's office, in a statement, said the president has heard the voice of the people with a "heavy heart" and sees the gravity of the situation. Park is thinking hard about fulfilling her responsibility as the president and normalizing the state affairs, the statement said.
The protests have become a lightning rod for general dissatisfaction with Park's leadership among groups such as farmers and workers whose jobs are threatened by slower economic growth. The distraction risks a cohesive response to the North Korea threat after two nuclear tests by the nation this year.
It also risks South Korea missing the chance to quickly clarify its relationship with the U.S. after Donald Trump's election as president. Park is skipping the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru this week, which will be attended by President Barack Obama and the leaders of Japan and China.
Park's popularity has plummeted to the single digits after acknowledging she consulted Choi on "some documents" after taking office in 2013. Opposition lawmakers have linked Choi to a religious movement and say she intervened more extensively in government affairs. She has been arrested on suspicion of attempted fraud and abuse of authority.
Prosecutors have also questioned current and former officials in Park's administration and executives at some of the country's biggest companies.
Park said she would cooperate with the investigation and take responsibility if any wrongdoing is found.
