The presence of former presidential secretary Moon Jae-in, who is currently heading President Roh's defense team, at a candlelit demonstration on Saturday has drawn a great deal of attention. Candlelit Rally Is Illegal, Prosecutors Say

The "Million Man Demonstration to Annul the Impeachment and Save Democracy" was held from 6:00 p.m. to 11:42 p.m. in Seoul's Gwanghwamun district Saturday, drawing (by police estimates) around 130,000 people. Moreover, in Busan, Gwangju and other major cities nationwide, 1,5000 people participated in similar protests.

Moon Jae-in, the former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs who is now in charge of the president's defense team, and former presidential secretary Yu In-tae, were both in attendance. Even Rep. Kwon Oh-eul, who is in the running to become Grand National Party chairman, also made an appearance.

An anti-impeachment candlelight demonstration calling on one million people to demand the protection of democracy fills the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul, Saturday night./Yonhap

According to OhMyNews, Moon said, "I've come for the first time tonight, and I've got a lump in my throat and I'm a little embarrassed. It seems the democratic spirit of 1987 still continues." He added, "In the 1980s, we expressed our views with rocks, and if we couldn't break down the wall, we pushed our views, even by throwing Molotov Cocktails, but candles are a much gentler way of expressing [what we want to say]. But perhaps candles can show reason and principle to the world. Peaceful protest is more powerful than violence."

Kwon Oh-eul, a candidate to head the opposition GNP, observes a candlelit demonstration in Gwanghwamun on Saturday.

Gwon's appearance at the demonstration has drawn a great deal of attention. "I came as a normal citizen," he said, "and to hear what people feel and think." He explained, "There is no change in my position that consent to the impeachment was unavoidable, but I wanted to see these candlelight demonstration with my own eyes."

On the other side of the political divide, a group of about 2,500 calling themselves the "Citizen's Alliance To Support the Impeachment of President Roh," a coalition of conservative civic groups, held a rally in Seoul's Gwanghwamun district in support of the president's impeachment. Holding up cards with slogans such as, "Resign, President Roh," “Expose the Pro-North Leftist Forces" and "Refuse to Pay KBS Subscription Fees," the protestors shouted "We support the impeachment" and "No Moo-hyun, resign!"

The Democratic Participatory Netizen Alliance, the Citizens Alliance Against North Korea's Nuclear Weapons, and the Anti-Nuclear, Anti-Kim Jong Il National Rally, along with 369 other conservative civic groups, shout slogans supporting the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun, in front of the Gwanghwamun International Building on Sunday.

Park Chan-seong, head of the "Citizen's Alliance to Block the North's Nuclear Weapons Program," said, "The 'Pan-national Action to Annul the Impeachment and Expose Corrupt Poltics’ filled up Gwanghwamun last night thanks to the mobilization efforts of groups like the Uri Party and Union of Korean Student Representatives (Korean: Hanchongnyeon)... They gathered here to intimidate the bench of the Constitutional Court." He told those gathered there, "It might be difficult, but man your stations to the end."

Shin Hye-shik of the "Headquarters of the Anti-North Korean Nukes, Anti-Kim Jong-il Youth Movement" attempted to rally supporters, saying, "They say 70 percent of the population opposes the impeachment, but this includes a lot of sympathy votes... We cannot live another four years with President Roh. Let's force out President Roh!" Prominent lawyer Seo Seok-gu and North Korean human rights activist Norbert Vollertsen also attended Sunday's rally.

(englishnews@chosun.com )