South Korean dioceses join call for President to step down

South Korean Catholics have demanded that President Park Geun-hye step down over a scandal that has been coined "Choi Soon-sil gate," according to the Catholic News Service.

Ucanews.com reported that from a diocesan level to seminarians, the Church in South Korea has been vocal in its calls for Ms Park to resign after news broke that her friend, Choi Soon-sil, allegedly manipulated the President to gain access to secret documents and purportedly embezzle funds through non-profit foundations.

At least 10 dioceses have called for Ms Park's resignation and held Masses praying for the country, starting on November 7, when Auxiliary Bishop Simon Ok Hyun-jin of Gwangju presided over the Mass with archdiocesan priests and called upon Ms Park to resign.

Following the Mass, Bishop Ok led some 1000 Catholics to the May 18 Democracy Plaza in downtown Gwangju.

Along the way, they shouted for Ms Park's resignation because of the scandal, which has already seen Ms Choi arrested and charged.

The same day, the Cheju Diocesan Committee for Justice and Peace held a Mass in memory of Baek Nam-ki, a farm activist who died recently, and criticised Ms Park for failing the State administration.

On November 9, Bishop Vincent Ri Pyung-ho of Jeonju presided over a cathedral Mass dedicated to the recovery of democracy. 

At the Mass, Bishop Ri indirectly asked for Ms Park's resignation when he said: "All walks of life in Korea are asking President Park to pull out of State administration."