英语文摘:S.Koreans continue candlelight vigil after impeachment of President Park

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans flooded the square in central Seoul again on Saturday night even after the bill to impeach President Park Geun-hye was overwhelmingly passed through the National Assembly the previous day.

Instead of being satisfied with the impeachment, protesters demanded Park immediately step down as president to minimize vacuum of state affairs and transfer power to next president.

Park was stripped of all executive powers, which were handed to Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, but her permanent removal from office requires the two-thirds endorsement from the nine-judge constitutional court that can have up to 180 days to rule on it.

Protesters were still wary of the court's ruling as many of the conservative-leaning judges are appointed by President Park and her predecessor, and also close to Park's ruling Saenuri Party.

On a cold winter night below zero temperature, people gathered around the Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, just over a kilometer away from the presidential Blue House where Park's office and residence are located.

Before an official function kicked off at 6:00 p.m. local time, a crocodile of some 200,000 demonstrators marched to the presidential office, surrounding it in three sides for about two hours and shouting "Imprison Park Geun-hye," "Park Geun-hye, resign" and "Cabinet, resign en bloc."

The so-called "human chain" forming was followed by a lights-out event for a minute at 7:00 p.m. local time. It is aimed to encourage people watching the rallies on TV to indirectly join the outside protest by turning off lights in offices and apartments.

Demonstrators are set to carry out their second march to the Blue House, before allowing people to make free speeches on a state at the square.