On a normal day Seoul’s Guanghwamun Square is filled with tourists admiring the view of South Korea’s ancient imperial palace.
But on Wednesday evening the palace was obscured from view, covered by a massive stage from which community leaders lead tens of thousands of angry demonstrators in protest against South Korean President Park Guen-Hye.
Through the evening protesters shouted, sung and even danced to the demand “Park step down”, furious at the president's announcement that she will ask parliament to decide her fate in the midst of a corruption scandal.
Crowds held candles as they huddled in the freezing weather. Protester Ha Yoo-Jin was among them.
“President Park Guen-hye’s remark that she will follow the decision for the National Assembly is really irresponsible," she said.
Protesters stage a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. (AAP) Source: AAP
"I think she has to resign herself to what people are hoping for.”
The president is facing calls to leave office over her relationship with Choi Soon-Sil, the daughter of a controversial spiritual leader who reportedly used her influence on Park for personal gain.
Choi is accused of extorting money from major companies for her NGOs, and getting her daughter special treatment at an elite university.
Planned discussions over whether President Park should face impeachment have been put on hold in light of her Tuesday announcement that parliament should find a way for her to resign.
Political science student Ji Yeon Bae said the privilege struck a chord with Seoul University students who boycotted classes that day in protest.
“She got into university so easily, when all the other Korean students are really trying to hard to get into a good university," she said.
"One day I’m going get a job and have a family here and I want to raise children in nation that does justice for its citizens.”
Also attending the latest protest were thousands of trade unionists who had spent the day striking and marched to Guanghwamun Square from Seoul City Hall earlier in the day.
“This country hasn’t been lead with common sense," worker Cho Jin-Soon said.
"As a labourer I've felt in many ways treated unfairly by this society.”
The evening gathering drew the most protesters on a weekday yet.
Artist Yu Ah Shin had been camping at the site for four weeks and said crowds had grown, not dwindled, with time.
“I’m not going anywhere until President Park steps down," he said.
"You can actually see the president’s Blue House from here, so Gwanghwamun square is the perfect spot for us to make our voices heard.”
As the protest continued South Korean parliamentarians opened a special committee to investigate for investigations into the scandal.
But according to the leader of the opposition Minjoo Party, Choo Mi-Ae, impeachment is inevitable.
“The one and only solution left is impeachment according to the constitution,” she said.
The president has apologised for the scandal three times, saying her relationship with Choi was careless, but she continues to deny any wrong-doing.
