国际英语资讯:韩国民众点蜡烛抗议总统丑闻_时事

国际英语资讯:韩国民众点蜡烛抗议总统丑闻

Park's Friday apology, her second since the scandal involving her decades-long confidante and former advisors came into focus last month, ended up a failure in appeasing public fury. Public anger seemed to have exploded with the emotional apology.

In the televised address to the nation, Park said with a quivering voice that the scandal was "all my fault and mistake" and that she as the country's chief executive had put too much faith in her personal relationship with Choi, who the president said had stood with her during the toughest times.

Park admitted that she lowered her guard toward Choi, whose father Park had portrayed as mentor. Park's toughest times indicate the assassinations of her mother in 1974 and then her father, military strongman Park Chung-hee killed in 1979 by one of his closest aides. Park's friendship with Choi dates back to the mid-1970s.

"It's a pity to think about President Park's personal history, but she can no longer run our country," said Seo Hyun-ah, a 39-year-old housewife who came to the square together with her mother and child in a baby carriage.

"Park must distance herself from state affairs and let a neutral prime minister form a coalition cabinet."

Park has fired eight presidential secretaries and nominated three cabinet members, including the prime minister who worked for former progressive President Roh Moo-hyun. Opposition parties have boycotted the "unilateral" nomination, demanding a new prime minister be picked by the parliamentary agreement.