S. Korea prosecutors want to question president over scandal

While police put the turnout at 260,000, organisers said one million people took part in what was the third in a series of weekly protests over a corruption scandal that has left Park fighting for her political survival.

“Even though more opposition members are calling for impeachment, that may just be a way of pressuring Ms Park to resign”. “She needs to step down”, said 66-year-old Cho Ki-mang, one of the protesters.

The two, who served as presidential secretaries for public relations and administrative affairs, respectively, were among Park’s longest-serving aides who resigned late last month following the scandal, which has shaken Park’s presidency.

Allegations range from selecting wardrobe of Park to intervention in the appointment of senior government officials, to the editing of presidential speeches and recommendations on government policies. Organizers then estimated the crowd at 700,000.

The Saturday protest produced a scene reminiscent of the 1987 pro-democracy rally that led the country’s military leaders to adopt direct presidential elections. Another huge rally is booked to occur in downtown Seoul on Saturday. “There isn’t yet [any possibility of her being accused]”, said a headquarters source on November 13.

“People said it was a bad idea to bring my kids here, but I want them to remember today. and learn that democracies are built on participation”, Lee said.

The 60-year-old woman is suspected of using her close friendship with the president to pressure major conglomerates into donating tens of millions of US dollars to the two foundations.

Park may agree with political parties to relinquish all powers in return for remaining in office until the end of her term, while a new prime minister and cabinet appointed by the parliament handle state affairs. But opposition parties say her words are meaningless without specific promises about transferring much of her presidential powers to a new No. 2.

Park was quizzed four days after prosecutors raided Samsung Electronics’ headquarters in Seoul. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the scandal-hit president.

The party also urged prosecutors to press Park over her relationship with friend Choi Soon-sil, who received access to government documents.

If Park does appear before prosecutors, it will be the first time in the country’s history that a President has been questioned by prosecutors.

It will be the first time that a sitting president in South Korea will be questioned by prosecutors.

“It’s much more than simply, “Oh, she knows this person”; it’s deeply intertwined, nearly like they’re Rasputin and Park Geun-hye is just a puppet”, David Kang, a Korea expert at the University of Southern California, told CNN.