More than 100,000 protesters march against 'corrupt' South Korean president

Police estimate there are at least 100,000 marching against the president Credit: Reuters

Tens of thousands of protesters in South Korea have gathered to demand President Park Gun-hye steps down.

Ms Park is accused of allowing her friend Choi Soon-sil to access sensitive government information without official permission.

Ms Choi was arrested on charges of fraud after she tried to extort $70 million from South Korean companies.

Protesters say they are marching because their country was being run by a 'shadow president' with no experience.

Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of the main opposition Minjoo party, said: "President Park’s last gesture toward the people of Korea should be to take her hands off the helm of state affairs and to submit to a prosecution investigation."

Students holding banners reading: 'Step down Park Geun-hye' Credit: Reuters

Ms Park has said she wants to remain in power until the next election scheduled for December 2017.

Police expected up that the demonstration on the capital's main street leading to the presidential Blue House could draw as many as 170,000 people.

Organizers had hoped to draw a million marchers.

It is the third Saturday in a row Seoul has seen mass rallies against the presidency.