'Santa Claus' protest demands South Korean President's resignation

On December 24, tens of thousands of people, many dressed as Santa Claus, protested throughout the streets of the capital Seoul, demanding that President Park Geun-Hye, who was temporarily suspended from office, immediately resign.

According to organizers, the number of people participating in the protest for the ninth consecutive week reached 550,000. Despite the cold weather, which dropped below zero degrees Celsius, protesters marched towards the Blue House (Presidential Office), the Prime Minister's Office and the Constitutional Court, holding banners, balloons, chanting slogans against President Park Geun-Hye as well as urging the Constitutional Court to approve her impeachment.

About 300 people dressed as "Santa Claus" gave books and Christmas cards to children who accompanied their parents in the protest.

Previously, on December 9, the South Korean National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye, which immediately suspended her from her position as president. Current Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn replaced her as the country's temporary leader.

While the impeachment focuses on a corruption scandal involving the president's longtime confidante, it also includes the temporary suspension of President Park Geun-hye, who is accused of dereliction of duty in failing to properly handle the ferry disaster. She has been criticized for not appearing in public until seven hours after the disaster.

In a statement to the court earlier this month, she claimed there was clear evidence that she had instructed officials to take all necessary measures in carrying out the rescue operation. On December 22, the Constitutional Court of South Korea began reviewing the National Assembly's vote to impeach President Park Geun-hye.

According to News