South Korea police investigating violent protests

March 2 (UPI) -- South Korea police are investigating an episode of violence that broke during protests Thursday, involving the damage of a structure that symbolized peaceful protests against former President Park Geun-hye.

Angry conservatives took down the candle-shaped structure during a rally for the 99th anniversary of Korea's March First independence movement, local television network MBC reported Friday.

Cellphone camera footage shows the protesters damaging the sculpture during a day of marches, while calling for a stronger U.S.-South Korea alliance.

The group marched in support of Park, following calls from prosecutors for a 30-year prison sentence for the former South Korean leader.

Park was impeached in 2017 after she was blamed for allowing an acquaintance to embezzle funds, and for not demonstrating sufficient leadership during the sinking of the ferry Sewol.

On Thursday, the conservatives also burned down a structure shaped like a yellow ribbon -- the emblem worn by South Koreans memorializing the casualties of the Sewol ferry disaster.

Police are investigating the violence by tracking surveillance footage from CCTVs, according to MBC.

News 1 reported Thursday the protesters flew the South Korean flag while chanting "Park Geun-hye is innocent" as they marched through central Seoul.

The protesters also expressed outrage at South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who had called for Park's impeachment ahead of his 2017 election to the presidency.

The conservatives wore banners that called for the resignation of Moon and an "end to Communism."

"Release innocent Park Geun-hye," was another banner the protesters wore like headbands during the rally, according to News 1.

Ryu Yeo-hae, a senior member of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, said the group could "no longer bear the pain of losing the country," and called on protesters to take inspiration from the 1919 March First Movement when demanding Park's fair trial.