S.Korea security seeks to round up woman at heart of scandal

But the party whip explained to the president that growing public calls for her speedy resignation – as evidenced by the continued massive protests in Seoul – have left Saenuri with no choice but to abandon this plan and go along with the opposition-led impeachment motion slated for a vote on December 9.

Anti-Park lawmakers in the ruling Saenuri Party said Monday that about 35-40 of them will vote Friday to impeach Park, who is embroiled in an explosive political scandal.

Corporate South Korea found itself on trial on Tuesday as the country’s top business leaders were upbraided by lawmakers for their roles in a sprawling corruption scandal that looks set to topple the president. A majority of the parliament has endorsed the motion, which requires a 24 hour waiting period before the impeachment vote can take place.

Saenuri Party leader Lee Jung-hyun speaks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, after his meeting with President Park Geun-hye at the Blue House, Dec. 6.

“I have always thought I would accept” the suggestion to resign in April, Chung quoted Park as saying. Leaving office in April would cut Park’s term short by 10 months.

Wednesday’s drama is the latest step in what appears to be the final days in power for President Park Geun-hye, who faces an impeachment vote on Friday.

The court has up to six months to decide.

“If the impeachment motion proceeds as scheduled, and is approved, the president said she will abide by the Constitution and calmly accept the process for the people and the nation”.

Kwon Young-sun, a Hong Kong-based economist with Nomura Securities, sees the Bank of Korea cutting interest rates only once in 2017 if an early election is held.

Three opposition parties and independent lawmakers, united for Park’s ouster, control 172 votes, 28 shy of the required quorum.

Local reports said Park may ring Saenuri lawmakers in person in a last-minute effort to evade the impeachment.

Lawmakers had meant to urge Park to quit in late April to pave the way for a presidential election in June.

Citing poor health and the fact that she is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, Choi Soon-sil, Park’s longtime confidante, defied a summons to appear Wednesday before a National Assembly committee that is investigating the possible involvement of the president and her close associates in an influence peddling scheme to force major Korean corporations to donate more than $65 million to two non-profit foundations.

Ms Choi has been described as a “Shaman fortune-teller” or “Rasputin-like figure” by the political opposition and South Korean media.

He particularly noted her treatment of Kim Chong, a former vice sports minister who is now under arrest on charges of awarding lucrative contracts to Ms Choi and trying to help her meddle in preparations for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Ahead of an impeachment vote later this week, lawmakers took turns grilling a K-pop music director, a fashion designer and almost a dozen others said to be linked to a woman at the heart of a scandal that threatens to bring down the country’s president. These remarks make clear that, even if the impeachment motion passes, she does not intend to step down until the motion has been reviewed by the Constitutional Court.

But Park faces much more serious accusations.

Choi used her ties to the president to funnel money in to her personal businesses and foundations, and has been indicted with extortion and leakage of confidential documents. They said refusing such requests would have been very hard, denying that the contributions were made in exchange for favors.