So far the candlelight protests have been largely peaceful, with many families participating, but there was still a heavy police presence on Saturday, with buses and trucks blocking access roads to the presidential Blue House. "We want to have a peaceful protest as in the three previous rallies", Nam Jeong-Su, spokesman for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, told AFP. Lurid reports of the unhealthy influence Choi wielded over Park have seen the president's approval ratings plunge to five percent -- a record low for a sitting president. The scandal has paralysed the Park administration and caused the president to pull out of a gathering of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders in Peru next week. The presidential Blue House said Park was receiving baskets of flowers from supporters, and organisers of a pro-Park rally near Gwanghwamun said they expected 5,000 people to turn out.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 19, 2016 05:05 UTC