Mass Candlelight Protest

[Anchor Lead]

Despite the snow and rain, throngs of people turned up to participate in a massive anti-government candlelight rally on Saturday night, calling for the resignation of President Park Geun-hye. Let's take a look.

[Soundbite] "Three! two! one! Lights out!"

[Pkg]

Candles that lightened up the plaza immediately go out, creating darkness. Rally organizers said that it symbolizes the dark sides of Korean society, which was revealed by the Choi Soon-sil scandal. A minute later, candles are lightened one after another, making the neighborhood bright again. Protesters depicted hope in this process of eliminating darkness.

[Soundbite] Woo Hyo-seop(Candlelight Rally Participant) : "One and two, although it is slow at first, two becomes four and four becomes eight with candles spreading.It is greatly meaningful."

Amid the early winter cold, many participants stayed up late into the night and delivered speeches calling on the president to step down.

[Soundbite] Huh Won-cheon(Candlelight Rally Participant) : "I don't think the president will easily step down.I want to deliver my opinion through the rally.I don't whether she is watching the rally,but I hope that she will reflect on herelf."

Organizers said that 1.9 million people participated in the fifth candle light anti-government protests nationwide, including 1,5 million who turned up at Gwanghwamun Plaza. However, police estimated the turn out at 330-thousand, including 270-thousand in Seoul.