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South Korea President Park impeachment trial begins South Korea scandal: Choi and Park cases in court
(about 4 hours later)
Constitutional Court proceedings have begun against South Korea's President Park Geun-hye, despite her absence from the impeachment trial. The trial of Choi Soon-sil, the woman at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal involving South Korea's president, has got under way.
Politicians voted to impeach Ms Park last month over a corruption scandal, but the court must now ratify or overturn that decision. Ms Choi, a close friend of President Park Geun-hye, is charged with abuse of power and attempted fraud.
The court's first hearing was postponed on Tuesday after Ms Park failed to appear. Separately, the Constitutional Court began considering President Park's impeachment over the scandal.
The scandal has sparked mass protests demanding her resignation. That trial, where the court must ratify or overturn a parliamentary impeachment vote, began despite Ms Park's absence.
It centres on her relationship with old friend Choi Soon-sil, who has been charged with a number of offences, including abuse of power, coercion and attempted fraud. Proceedings opened on Tuesday but were curtailed because Ms Park did not attend. On Thursday the court went ahead anyway.
Her lawyer previously said Ms Park, who is not legally required to attend, will not be in court "unless there are special circumstances", the Yonhap news agency reported. Her lawyer has previously said Ms Park will not be in court "unless there are special circumstances", Yonhap news agency reported.
Ms Park is alleged to given Ms Choi access to government decisions and allowed her to exploit their close relationship to solicit money from corporations for foundations she controlled. Both cases centre on allegations President Park gave Ms Choi unauthorised access to government decisions and allowed her to exploit their close relationship to solicit money from corporations for foundations from which she benefitted.
Both women have apologised but deny committing criminal offences.Both women have apologised but deny committing criminal offences.
Separately, a judge in Denmark told the Associated Press that she was considering legal action against South Korean journalists who illegally filmed Ms Choi's daughter in court despite repeated orders not to do so. The scandal has rocked South Korea, sparking several huge demonstrations.
Ms Choi's daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, a former national equestrian, was arrested in Denmark on Sunday and subsequently appeared in court, accused of overstaying her visa. While the impeachment process continues, Ms Park remains formally president but with most of her powers handed to the prime minister, a role that normally has little executive authority.
South Korean authorities say they are working on extraditing Ms Chung. Separately, Yonhap news agency reports that South Korea has sent a formal extradition request to Denmark for the daughter of Ms Choi, several days after saying they were working on it.
Part of the investigation into Ms Choi's activities relates to a gift horse from South Korean firm Samsung to Ms Choi, allegedly for Ms Chung's training. The prestigious Ewha Women's University in Seoul is also accused of giving Ms Chung a place based on her mother's connections. Chung Yoo-ra, a former national equestrian rider, was arrested in Denmark on Sunday and later appeared in court accused of overstaying her visa.
Ms Park's impeachment case is being heard in a court by nine judges. They have 180 days to decide whether to ratify or overturn the vote in the National Assembly. Part of the investigation into Ms Choi's activities relates to a gift horse from South Korean conglomerate Samsung to Ms Choi, allegedly for Ms Chung's training.
Ms Park is still formally president but has had most of her powers handed to the prime minister, who would normally have few formal powers. The prestigious Ewha Women's University in Seoul is also accused of giving Ms Chung a place - she has since left - because of her mother's connections.