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| South Korea scandal: Choi apologises for 'unpardonable crime' | South Korea scandal: Choi apologises for 'unpardonable crime' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The woman suspected of exerting influence over South Korean President Park Geun-hye for personal gain has apologised for an "unpardonable crime". | The woman suspected of exerting influence over South Korean President Park Geun-hye for personal gain has apologised for an "unpardonable crime". |
| Choi Soon-sil, the daughter of a cult leader, spoke amid a throng of media and protesters as she entered the prosecutor's office in Seoul. | Choi Soon-sil, the daughter of a cult leader, spoke amid a throng of media and protesters as she entered the prosecutor's office in Seoul. |
| Ms Choi is said to have been involved in government business despite having no security clearance. | Ms Choi is said to have been involved in government business despite having no security clearance. |
| Ms Park has acknowledged that Ms Choi edited some of her speeches. | Ms Park has acknowledged that Ms Choi edited some of her speeches. |
| A 'feeding frenzy' - BBC's Steve Evans at the scene | A 'feeding frenzy' - BBC's Steve Evans at the scene |
| Scrums don't come much bigger. Hundreds of cameras and reporters swarmed around the tiny figure of Choi Soon-sil, a black hat down low over her eyes. In this melee, she apparently apologised saying she had committed an unpardonable crime - without specifying what it might be. But the real political traction comes from her relationship with the country's leader. | Scrums don't come much bigger. Hundreds of cameras and reporters swarmed around the tiny figure of Choi Soon-sil, a black hat down low over her eyes. In this melee, she apparently apologised saying she had committed an unpardonable crime - without specifying what it might be. But the real political traction comes from her relationship with the country's leader. |
| It is said that President Park consulted Ms Choi on minor matters like what colours to wear and on large matters of policy. | It is said that President Park consulted Ms Choi on minor matters like what colours to wear and on large matters of policy. |
| Prosecutors are also investigating allegations of financial corruption. The media and opposition smell blood. There is a feeding frenzy. | Prosecutors are also investigating allegations of financial corruption. The media and opposition smell blood. There is a feeding frenzy. |
| Could a friendship topple a president? | Could a friendship topple a president? |
| Ms Choi is the daughter of shadowy religious cult leader, Choi Tae-min, who was Ms Park's mentor until his death in 1994. | Ms Choi is the daughter of shadowy religious cult leader, Choi Tae-min, who was Ms Park's mentor until his death in 1994. |
| The scandal has badly eroded the president's popularity before next year's elections. Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday to demand she resign. | The scandal has badly eroded the president's popularity before next year's elections. Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday to demand she resign. |
| Choi Soon-sil flew from Germany to Seoul on Sunday. | Choi Soon-sil flew from Germany to Seoul on Sunday. |
| "Please, forgive me," a teary Ms Choi said at the prosecutor's office, according to Yonhap news agency. | "Please, forgive me," a teary Ms Choi said at the prosecutor's office, according to Yonhap news agency. |
| However, her lawyer denied she was admitting guilt. | However, her lawyer denied she was admitting guilt. |
| "It wouldn't be right to take it as any kind of legal statement," Lee Kyung-jae told reporters. | "It wouldn't be right to take it as any kind of legal statement," Lee Kyung-jae told reporters. |
| According to media reports, Ms Choi pressured businesses to donate some 80bn won ($70bn; £57bn) to two non-profit organisations she ran, using leverage provided by her close relationship with the president. | |
| She is alleged to have in turn personally misappropriated some of these funds. | |
| A televised apology from Ms Park last week failed to defuse the situation. The president has said that Ms Choi was someone who "gave me help when I was going through a difficult time". | A televised apology from Ms Park last week failed to defuse the situation. The president has said that Ms Choi was someone who "gave me help when I was going through a difficult time". |
| Opposition politician Jae-myung Lee said Ms Park had "lost her authority as president". | Opposition politician Jae-myung Lee said Ms Park had "lost her authority as president". |
| On Saturday, prosecutors raided the homes of several presidential aides, seizing computers and files belonging to the officials who are suspected of being Ms Choi's accomplices. | On Saturday, prosecutors raided the homes of several presidential aides, seizing computers and files belonging to the officials who are suspected of being Ms Choi's accomplices. |
| Ms Park, 64, became the first woman to lead South Korea after winning presidential elections in 2012. | Ms Park, 64, became the first woman to lead South Korea after winning presidential elections in 2012. |