South Korea President Accepts Justice Minister’s Resignation

Park, who has immunity from prosecution in the case as long as she remains in office, is alleged by prosecutors to have colluded with Choi to enable her friend to wield improper influence in government affairs and in fundraising by the two foundations.

Prosecutors describe Ms Park and her secret confidante, Choi Soon Sil, as co-culprits in the scandal.

A prominent K-pop music video director has been charged as part of a corruption scandal rocking South Korea and engulfing the country’s president, Park Geun-hye.

Organizers of Saturday’s protest had called for 2 million people to hit the streets – no small feat for a country of 50 million.

They estimate 1.5 million will join by the end of the night, with 500,000 to turn out in other regions.

Police reportedly mobilized 25,000 police officers in Seoul to brace for a possibility that the rallies turn violent and to prevent some protesters from marching inside the Blue House.

This was the fifth straight weekend of protests in the capital city. The demonstrations have been peaceful so far.

In July, the Park administration jointly announced an agreement with the U.S. counterpart to install one THAAD battery in southeast South Korea by the end of next year.

Park stands accused of allowing a close friend to access government documents without clearance and make decisions on state affairs, leading some to claim that the president is being controlled by a shadowy puppet master.

Those attending on Saturday came from a cross-section of South Korean society, with farmers, Buddhist monks and university students all involved.

On Saturday, some protesters chanted, “Imprison Park Geun-hye!” as they marched toward the presidential Blue House.

The scandal and the ensuing popular outcry has sparked a political crisis in South Korea, and the opposition has called for Ms Park’s resignation.

Park, who can not be prosecuted while in office, has apologized twice to the public over the scandal but has refused to resign as opposition lawmakers, major newspapers and some members of her own party have demanded. Some members of Park’s conservative party have vowed to support an impeachment attempt, arguing it would serve the party’s interests to distance itself from Park ahead of next year’s presidential election. Her rating was zero percent among people in their 20s and 30s.

A parliamentary vote to impeach Park could take place as early as the coming week as a growing number of ruling-party politicians back the opposition-led campaign to oust the president.

The Constitutional Court has the final authority to approve an impeachment motion.