| Protesters hold placards that read "Moon Jae-in OUT," at a rally against scandal-hit justice minister and President Moon in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Park Si-soo
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Seoul on Thursday calling for the resignation of scandal-hit Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
Many of them also urged President Moon Jae-in to step down ― though it seems unlikely ― to take responsibility for his "wrongful" appointment of Cho amid a widening corruption scandal involving the minister and his family members.
The rally began around noon, three hours after Cho's wife Chung Kyung-shim was summoned to the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office for questioning over suspicions including her alleged fabrication of a college president's citation to give her daughter an easier entry to a prestigious university here, and dubious financial investments.
| Protesters hold the national flags of South Korea and the United States in downtown Seoul, Thursday. U.S. flags are a prop that frequently features in rallies organized by conservatives who support a strong alliance between Seoul and Washington. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| Protesters wave the flags of South Korea and the United States in downtown Seoul, Thursday, calling for the resignation of scandal-hit Justice Minister Cho Kuk. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| Protesters flock to a thoroughfare in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
All eyes are on the prosecution, which will soon decide whether to seek an arrest warrant for Chung. If she is arrested, she will be the first wife of a sitting justice minister in Korea's modern history to be behind bars. This will essentially rev up resignation pressure on the minister, regardless of his involvement in the scandal.
Prosecutors also are looking into evidence to determine if the minister is involved in the corruption scandal.
Meanwhile, those who back the President are set to stage a rally near the Supreme Prosecutors' Office this weekend to show their support for the minister and Moon.
| A man dressed as Jesus Christ and "bleeding" from a crown of thorns speaks during the rally in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| A man prays during the protest in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| A female protester prays with her eyes closed and hands stretched to the sky in central Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| A protester in the costume of a traditional Korean street performer takes part in the protest in downtown Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
| Female protesters sit on the ground, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |