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South Korea's presidential scandal South Korea's presidential scandal
(10 days later)
South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has said she is prepared to stand down, amid an escalating corruption scandal. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been impeached by parliament over a corruption scandal. She stepped down following the vote on 9 December.
The scandal, which has generated huge protests, revolves around Ms Park's relationship with an old friend, and has brought allegations of cult activities, influence-peddling and leaks of classified information. The case now goes before the constitutional court, which has 180 days to rule.
Ms Park is facing possible impeachment, but has now said it is up to parliament to decide if her term should end early. The scandal, which has generated huge protests, centres on her relationship with an old friend, and has brought allegations of cult activities, influence-peddling and leaks of classified information.
What is the relationship at the heart of the scandal?What is the relationship at the heart of the scandal?
Like many close friendships, Ms Park and Choi Soon-sil go back a long way.Like many close friendships, Ms Park and Choi Soon-sil go back a long way.
In 1974, Park Geun-hye's mother was killed by a North Korean spy who had intended to kill her father, the then military leader Park Chung-hee. Ms Park, then aged 22, returned from her studies in Europe to become a stand-in first lady. In 1974, Park Geun-hye's mother was killed by a North Korean spy who had intended to kill Ms Park's father, then-military leader Park Chung-hee. Ms Park, then aged 22, became a stand-in first lady for her widowed father.
It was then she got to know Choi Tae-min, a pseudo-Christian leader who set up a cult called The Church of Eternal Life. He said he had been visited by the soul of Ms Park's late mother who asked him to guide her.It was then she got to know Choi Tae-min, a pseudo-Christian leader who set up a cult called The Church of Eternal Life. He said he had been visited by the soul of Ms Park's late mother who asked him to guide her.
He became Ms Park's mentor, while also amassing considerable wealth and power.He became Ms Park's mentor, while also amassing considerable wealth and power.
When Park senior was assassinated by his head of intelligence in 1979, there was speculation it was because the spy chief was worried the president was being manipulated by the man dubbed "the Korean Rasputin". When President Park senior was assassinated by his head of intelligence in 1979, there was speculation it was because the spy chief was worried the president was being manipulated by the man dubbed "the Korean Rasputin".
By this point Ms Park was firm friends with Mr Choi's daughter, Choi Soon-sil. Their critics believe she perpetuated her father's habits. By this point Ms Park was firm friends with Mr Choi's daughter, Choi Soon-sil. Their critics believe Ms Choi perpetuated her father's habits.
Why has the friendship become problematic?Why has the friendship become problematic?
Few claims have been off-limits in the media coverage of the scandal, with some reports going as far as suggesting the president is a puppet who hosted shamanist rituals at the presidential compound. But many of the lurid claims are unsubstantiated. On 20 November, Ms Choi was charged with various offences, including abuse of authority, coercion, attempted coercion and attempted fraud.
The official investigation focuses on Ms Choi's alleged abuse of her closeness to the president to enrich herself and influence policy, as well as her handling of classified documents. Few claims have been off-limits in the media coverage, with some reports going as far as suggesting the president is a puppet who hosted shamanist rituals at the presidential compound. But many of the lurid claims are unsubstantiated.
Ms Choi is also alleged to have used her presidential connections to pressure companies for millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit foundations she controlled. The claims have even swept up Samsung in the investigation. Ms Choi - who is in custody - is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies for millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit foundations she controlled. The claims have even swept up Samsung in the investigation.
President Park is alleged to have been personally involved, instructing Ms Choi and two presidential aides to collect money for the launch of Ms Choi's foundations, according to prosecution documents submitted to the court.President Park is alleged to have been personally involved, instructing Ms Choi and two presidential aides to collect money for the launch of Ms Choi's foundations, according to prosecution documents submitted to the court.
Ms Choi is also accused of having received large numbers of confidential government documents from Ms Park, via an aide. These allegedly included information about ministerial candidates and North Korea.Ms Choi is also accused of having received large numbers of confidential government documents from Ms Park, via an aide. These allegedly included information about ministerial candidates and North Korea.
There are even claims Ms Choi took advantage of the president's wardrobe budget - buying cheap outfits and keeping the change.There are even claims Ms Choi took advantage of the president's wardrobe budget - buying cheap outfits and keeping the change.
On Sunday 20 November, Ms Choi was formally charged with various offences, including abuse of authority, coercion, attempted coercion and attempted fraud. Two former presidential advisers were also charged by prosecutors, who said they thought the president conspired in the wrongdoing.
The allegations are strenuously denied by Ms Park.
What do the two women say?What do the two women say?
When she was first questioned in October, Ms Choi said she had committed an "unpardonable crime", though her lawyer said this was not a legal admission of guilt.When she was first questioned in October, Ms Choi said she had committed an "unpardonable crime", though her lawyer said this was not a legal admission of guilt.
President Park has herself admitted some lapses. She says she did consult Ms Choi for advice, and that she helped her edit her speeches, but that this stopped once she had a team of advisers in place.President Park has herself admitted some lapses. She says she did consult Ms Choi for advice, and that she helped her edit her speeches, but that this stopped once she had a team of advisers in place.
Witnesses have claimed that Ms Choi received briefings and official papers long after that occurred. Documents were also discovered on an unsecured tablet computer found in an old office of Ms Choi's.Witnesses have claimed that Ms Choi received briefings and official papers long after that occurred. Documents were also discovered on an unsecured tablet computer found in an old office of Ms Choi's.
But the tone of the president's pronouncements has changed over time. She began with opaque apologies: "Regardless of what the reason may be, I am sorry that the scandal has caused national concern and I humbly apologise to the people."But the tone of the president's pronouncements has changed over time. She began with opaque apologies: "Regardless of what the reason may be, I am sorry that the scandal has caused national concern and I humbly apologise to the people."
But she has moved on to "heartbroken" public confessions of naivety: "Sad thoughts trouble my sleep at night. I realise that whatever I do, it will be difficult to mend the hearts of the people, and then I feel a sense of shame."But she has moved on to "heartbroken" public confessions of naivety: "Sad thoughts trouble my sleep at night. I realise that whatever I do, it will be difficult to mend the hearts of the people, and then I feel a sense of shame."
She had said she was willing to be questioned by investigators, but has so far resisted their attempts to speak to her.She had said she was willing to be questioned by investigators, but has so far resisted their attempts to speak to her.
Her spokesman said the prosecutors' allegation that she colluded with Ms Choi was "deeply regrettable".Her spokesman said the prosecutors' allegation that she colluded with Ms Choi was "deeply regrettable".
"The announcement is not the truth at all and but a house of cards built on repeated imagination and speculation that completely ignores objective evidence," said Jung Youn-kuk. "The announcement is not the truth at all and but a house of cards built on repeated imagination," said Jung Youn-kuk.
Is anyone else involved?Is anyone else involved?
Several former presidential aides have been investigated in connection with the case, with two of them now charged. Several former presidential aides have been investigated in connection with the case, with two of them charged.
An Chong-bum, Ms Park's former senior secretary for policy co-ordination, has been charged with abuse of authority, coercion and attempted coercion, while Jung Ho-sung is accused of passing classified presidential documents to Ms Choi. An Chong-bum, Ms Park's former senior secretary for policy co-ordination, has been charged with abuse of authority, coercion and attempted coercion, and Jung Ho-sung is accused of passing classified presidential documents to Ms Choi.
Local media has also been busy finding colourful associates of Ms Choi that were close to the president, including various celebrities and her personal trainer, who was appointed as a presidential aide. Local media have also been busy finding colourful associates of Ms Choi who were close to the president, including various celebrities and her personal trainer, who was appointed as a presidential aide.
What now? Does the impeachment vote end Ms Park's career?
South Korea's constitution does not allow a sitting president to be prosecuted and she has 15 months left in her term. Not quite.
But in a surprise announcement on 29 November she said she would be willing to stand down "once lawmakers come up with measures to transfer power in a way that minimises any power vacuum and chaos in governance". The vote was overwhelming - 234 members of parliament voted to impeach her in a secret ballot, with only 56 standing by her, meaning some members of her ruling Saenuri party voted in favour on the motion.
Opposition parties have been seeking to have her impeached, and have advised her to stand down "honourably" before that. The Constitutional Court will now rule on the matter. If six of the nine judges endorse the parliamentary vote, she will be removed from office.
It will take a two-thirds majority vote in parliament to unseat her, which is possible if enough of her own MPs support the move. Meanwhile Hwang Kyo-ahn, the country's prime minister, is serving as interim president.
If they do, it will fall to the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter. If six of nine judges agree, she can be removed from office. If the judges rule against Ms Park, new elections must then be held within 60 days,.
If she is unseated or steps down, as hundreds of thousands of Koreans are demanding, elections must then be held within 60 days.