Teenagers Enraged at "Privileges Enjoyed by Chung Yoo-ra" Light Candles After CSATs

[경향신문] On November 17, high school seniors who had completed taking the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) carried candles calling for President Park Geun-hye to step down. News on how Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of the so-called "secret heavyweight" Choi Soon-sil, was admitted to Ewha Womans University after receiving all kinds of privileges, fueled the frustration that the high school seniors had felt witnessing the Choi Soon-sil scandal.

On November 17, high school seniors who took their College Scholastic Ability Tests (CSATs) gather in front of Bosingak, Jongno-gu, Seoul and hold a candlelight vigil demanding President Park Geun-hye to step down. Kim Chang-gil

This evening at 7 p.m. in front of Bosingak in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, more than a hundred teenagers including high school seniors in school uniforms gathered to light candles. This was the "High School Seniors' Rally for the Resignation of Park Geun-hye" organized by the youth organization, 21st Century Youth Community Hope. Ahn Hye-yeon (18), a senior at Yeil Girls' High School in Seoul attended this day's demonstration after taking the CSAT and made a free speech saying, "It is disappointing to be born in a world where you go to college with your mother's power. I want to show the adults that there is no age limit in political participation."

Hong Seong-min (18), a senior at Songchon High School in Daejeon said, "I want to ask the grown-ups who ask 'What do students know?' what they did. This situation was caused because of the votes that they cast, but it is us youths, who have done no wrong, who must suffer the damages." The teenagers shouted slogans, "Park Geun-hye, Step Down!" and "Park Geun-hye, Get Out!" and marched all the way to the Seoul Finance Center in Taepyeong-ro, Jung-gu.

At 9 p.m. this day at Bosingak, there was another rally under the heading, "Let's Meet on the Day of the CSAT!" encouraging the young people to take part in politics and vote. Heo Dodam (18), a senior at Janggi High School in Gimpo who organized this demonstration said, "I think the lack of interest in politics and the low voter turnout among the young people is a serious problem in South Korea right now. But it is no longer the time to remain indifferent."

Earlier this day at 6 p.m., at the Marronnier Park in Dongsung-dong, Seoul, civic groups including 2017 Democratic Peace Forum organized a performance under the heading, "CSAT at 18! Vote at 19? A Buzzing Street Performance to Expand Political Rights to More People." The youths demanded that political rights be given to more people by lowering the current minimum voting age of nineteen to eighteen. High school seniors who have taken their CSATs are expected to attend en masse the fourth candlelight vigil scheduled nationwide on November 19.