South Koreans of all social strata took to the streets and accused the IS of rigging the "presidential election" in violation of democracy, terming it a political coup worse than the March 15 fraud-marred election by Syngman Rhee.

The network for overseeing the public security institutions made up of the Bar Association for Democratic Society, the Family Movement for Realizing Democracy, Citizens Solidarity for Democratic Society and other civic and public organizations and human rights organizations issued a statement on June 12. They said it was violation of law and a challenge to the desire of the south Korean people for democracy that the conservative forces drew even power bodies into the "presidential election".

An organization in a candlelight rally before Posin Pavilion in Seoul on June 15 declared the election null and void, saying it was engineered by the IS and public security forces.

The Youth Solidarity made public a declaration on the situation on June 20 which accused the authorities of rigging the election in an organized manner through the psychology and intelligence bureau at the instructions of Won Se Hun, former director of the IS.

More than 100,000 people signed their names, demanding state investigation into the case of the IS's interference in election, it said, adding this has touched off strong public resentment.

The Emergency Situation Council to Denounce IS Interference in Presidential Election for Political Operation which consists of 200 plus civic and social organizations sponsored a candlelight rally in Jongro District, Seoul on June 28.

The organization held huge candlelight rallies at Seoul Square where more than 23,000 converged on July 13 and over 40,000 on Aug. 17 to demand the immediate dismissal of the present director of the IS and the immediate state investigation into the IS.

It warned that it would continue the candlelight actions if the authorities decline this.

The candlelight actions expanded to the scale of 100,000 in ten cities of south Korea including Pusan, Kwangju, Taegu, Taejon and Ulsan.