Korean-Americans held protest rallies in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States to demand South Korean President Park Geun-hye resign over a corruption scandal.

About 30 people held a candlelight protest near Lafayette Park next to the White House on Saturday evening, demanding Park step down over the scandal that centers on allegations that a long-time confidante of Park exercised huge influence over her and state affairs while amassing ill-gotten wealth.

A similar rally was also held in Ellicott City, near Baltimore, Maryland.

In New York, some 150 people gathered at Leonard Square for a third candlelight protest, chanting slogans calling for Park to resign and face justice.
In Los Angeles, two opposing groups of Korean-Americans held rallies at a plaza near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in the Koreatown neighborhood, one in support of Park's resignation and the other in opposition to the demand.

Those calling for Park's resignation chanted slogans in English, such as "Step Down," while the conservative group waved US and Korean flags, and shouted slogans in support of Park.

Organizers of anti-Park protests said that such rallies were held in 67 cities in 23 countries, including Houston and Toronto. (Yonhap)