ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images(SEOUL) — Tens of thousands of South Korean protesters filled the streets of Seoul on Saturday, demanding the resignation of the country’s president amid a growing scandal.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has faced backlash and record low approval ratings for her close friendship with Choi Soon-sil, the daughter of a cult leader, who acted as her adviser in secret. Choi is accused of allegedly using her access to the government to solicit Korean business donations for foundations she controlled.

There were chants of “Park Geun-hye out” and “Treason by a secret government” as protesters gathered in Gwanghwamun square, according to BBC, with police estimating the crowd to be about 45,000 people. Protest organizers believe the amount of protesters was closer to 200,000, BBC reports.

Choi was taken into custody earlier this week and the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant to formally arrest her Friday on charges of fraud and abuse of power, according to the Korea Times.

As authorities continue to investigate the relationship between Park and Choi, the South Korean president has admitted that Choi had edited her speeches, but there are reports that her influence extended as far as choosing which colors Park should wear.

Choi’s father, Choi Tae-min, was a leader of a religious cult known as the Church of Eternal Life and also served as a spiritual adviser for Park’s father, former South Korean President Park Chung-hee. Choi has denied that the cult influenced her presidency, BBC reports.

Park delivered an emotional TV address on Friday and apologized, saying she “put too much faith in a personal relationship and didn’t look carefully at what was happening,” according to BBC.

In an effort to cool critics, the South Korean president replaced her prime minister and fired some of her aides, according to BBC, but many people in the country still believe she should resign.

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.