Independence Movement Day Shows A Divided Nation

Millions of South Koreans took to the streets on Wednesday to celebrate Independence Movement Day which turned the central district into a field of national flags. This year's celebration showed how much the nation is divided with two groups protesting against and in support of President Park Geun-hye.

During the Independence Movement Day celebration, the strain between anti-Park factions and pro-Park groups finally reached a peak. In early March the Constitutional Court will rule on the issue of reinstating or unseating the current president due to the ongoing bribery scandal. President Park Geun-hye's loyal followers that the impeachment case should be discarded to preserve the heritage of independence fighters while anti-Park protesters are claiming that the president's exile is key in salvaging the nation.

In an interview with The Korea Herald, one protester said that he was hoping that the court will quickly put a stop to the chaos by proceeding with the impeachment. Other protesters said that it was sad to see South Korea in such a divided state when the country is already separated from North Korea. The nation's Independence Movement Day started when South Koreans organized a nonviolence protest across the country 98 years ago which eventually led to Korea's independence from Japan in 1945.

A total of 202 buses were used as a shield enclosing Gwanghwamun Square and around 16,000 police officers were deployed to keep the Independence Movement Day protesters in line. The rival groups were kept in their respective rally sites which are 500 meters away from one another to prevent violent clashes. Around 11 a.m. thousands of Park supporters have already gathered near the square.

The protesters walked to five major locations that included the Constitutional Court, Seoul Station and Dongdaemun as cited by The Korea Times. Around 1 million anti-Park protesters rallied at the square at 5 p.m. and started shouting for the president's impeachment. After an administrative court allowed right of entry to Cheong Wa Dae, the anti-Park group marched to the 100-meter point perimeter at 7 p.m.