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| South Korea’s Leader Offers to Quit in April, but It Might Not Be Enough | South Korea’s Leader Offers to Quit in April, but It Might Not Be Enough |
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| SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s embattled president, Park Geun-hye, has offered to step down in April, leaders of her party said on Tuesday after meeting with her. But the offer was unlikely to prevent an impeachment vote on Friday over a corruption scandal that has turned the vast majority of the public against her. | SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s embattled president, Park Geun-hye, has offered to step down in April, leaders of her party said on Tuesday after meeting with her. But the offer was unlikely to prevent an impeachment vote on Friday over a corruption scandal that has turned the vast majority of the public against her. |
| Ms. Park appeared to accept that a vote on impeachment was inevitable and said that she was bracing for it, Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of Ms. Park’s governing party, Saenuri, said in a statement Tuesday after meeting with the president for 55 minutes. | Ms. Park appeared to accept that a vote on impeachment was inevitable and said that she was bracing for it, Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of Ms. Park’s governing party, Saenuri, said in a statement Tuesday after meeting with the president for 55 minutes. |
| Ms. Park said last week that she was willing to resign before the end of her term but that would leave it to the National Assembly to decide the terms, including the date of her departure. Critics saw that offer as an attempt to divide her opponents and stall the push for impeachment. | Ms. Park said last week that she was willing to resign before the end of her term but that would leave it to the National Assembly to decide the terms, including the date of her departure. Critics saw that offer as an attempt to divide her opponents and stall the push for impeachment. |
| Members of Saenuri loyal to Ms. Park suggested that she resign in April, and it seemed possible that some lawmakers leaning toward impeachment would accept that as a compromise. But a huge rally against the president on Saturday, the latest in a series of enormous weekly demonstrations, appears to have bolstered pro-impeachment sentiment in the National Assembly. | Members of Saenuri loyal to Ms. Park suggested that she resign in April, and it seemed possible that some lawmakers leaning toward impeachment would accept that as a compromise. But a huge rally against the president on Saturday, the latest in a series of enormous weekly demonstrations, appears to have bolstered pro-impeachment sentiment in the National Assembly. |
| It is uncertain what the outcome of an impeachment vote would be. But news outlets reported Tuesday that the pro-impeachment lawmakers were believed to have the 200 votes necessary to pass the bill in the 300-seat body. | It is uncertain what the outcome of an impeachment vote would be. But news outlets reported Tuesday that the pro-impeachment lawmakers were believed to have the 200 votes necessary to pass the bill in the 300-seat body. |
| “I have always thought I would accept” the suggestion that she resign in April, Mr. Chung quoted Ms. Park as saying. Leaving office in April would cut her term short by 10 months. | “I have always thought I would accept” the suggestion that she resign in April, Mr. Chung quoted Ms. Park as saying. Leaving office in April would cut her term short by 10 months. |
| According to Mr. Chung, Ms. Park said that if she were impeached, she would stay “calm and composed” during the next step in the process: waiting for the Constitutional Court to rule on whether her impeachment was warranted. | According to Mr. Chung, Ms. Park said that if she were impeached, she would stay “calm and composed” during the next step in the process: waiting for the Constitutional Court to rule on whether her impeachment was warranted. |
| The court has up to six months to decide. During that period, Ms. Park’s presidential powers would be suspended, and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn would step in as acting president. If the court were to rule against her impeachment, she would immediately return to office. If not, South Korea would hold an election in 60 days to select her successor. | |
| The government has been paralyzed for weeks over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving a longtime friend and confidante of Ms. Park, Choi Soon-sil. Ms. Choi has been indicted on a charge of extorting large sums from South Korean companies. Prosecutors have said that Ms. Park helped her and have identified her as a criminal suspect, a first for a president, though she cannot be indicted while in office. | The government has been paralyzed for weeks over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving a longtime friend and confidante of Ms. Park, Choi Soon-sil. Ms. Choi has been indicted on a charge of extorting large sums from South Korean companies. Prosecutors have said that Ms. Park helped her and have identified her as a criminal suspect, a first for a president, though she cannot be indicted while in office. |