Protesters Celebrate Impeachment Vote

Hundreds of thousands of Koreans gathered in Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul on Saturday to celebrate the passage of a bill to impeach President Park Geun-hye a day earlier.

But the day also brought out some 40,000 mostly elderly supporters of the president, who gathered a few hundred meters away to show their displeasure. Their numbers increased markedly from about 10,000 protesters a week earlier.

The main protest was significantly smaller at around 800,000 than the previous weekend's record turnout of up to 1.7 million, apparently because their primary objective has been achieved.

On Friday, the National Assembly voted by an overwhelming margin to impeach Park, who is embroiled in a massive influence-peddling and corruption scandal.

Protesters were in buoyant mood, lighting fireworks and holding a concert. Hundreds marched up to a point just around 200 m away from Cheong Wa Dae and lit fireworks. Other protesters danced as performers played on a stage in Gwanghwamun Plaza.

The rallies ended around 10:30 p.m. with no injuries or arrests reported. Smaller rallies were held across the nation.

Organizers pledged to continue the protests every week until the Constitutional Court make a decision on the impeachment bill and all the suspects are punished.