S. Koreans brave biting cold to demand president's resignation

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans braved biting cold on Saturday to take to the streets to demand scandal-tainted President Park Geun-hye resign.

It was the 12th consecutive Saturday rally, which has been organized over an influence-peddling scandal centered on Park and her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil.

With some 1,500 civic groups involved, the new year's second rally at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square -- held with the mercury well below zero -- also called for the arrest of corporate leaders who allegedly bribed organizations linked to Choi in exchange for favors from the government.

About 14,700 riot police were mobilized to the scene.

Following the National Assembly's vote to oust her on Dec. 9, Park was suspended from all powers and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn took over as acting president.

Earlier this month, the Constitutional Court officially kicked off its procedure to judge whether Park's impeachment should be formalized. The court's first open hearing was on Jan. 3 but Park wasn't present. The court has up to six months from the day of the impeachment vote to complete its legal review.

(END)