(VOVworld)- South Korean police deployed thousands of officers on Saturday (Nov 5) ahead of a planned mass protest calling for embattled President Park Geun Hye to resign over a crippling corruption scandal.

Photo: AFP

Despite a tearful televised apology to the nation by Ms Park on Friday (Nov 4), in which she agreed to be questioned in a formal corruption probe, some 40,000 protesters are expected to turn out at the rally in central Seoul.

Police have banned the protesters from marching through the streets, citing traffic congestion, but there is a possibility demonstrators will try to make their way towards the presidential Blue House and 20,000 officers have been deployed.