'Half a million' protesters rally in Seoul to demand resignation of South Korean president over scandal of friend who meddled in state affairs

South Korean President Park Geun-hye faced mounting calls to step down as a record number of people at a massive rally on Saturday criticized her as unfit to rule over allegations she allowed a friend to meddle in state affairs and wield influence.

The protest rally in downtown Seoul drew more than half a million people, according to its organizers, many of whom were ordinary



citizens who packed the main streets running through the city center including a 12-lane thoroughfare.

They came with family, and students and young parents pushing strollers were among the crowd as were people in wheelchairs and crutches, in a sharp contrast from some previous rallies often dominated by militant unions and civic groups that had turned violent and clashed with police.