South Korean president to ‘calmly’ accept impeachment outcome

Choi had been slated to answer questions on Wednesday, but refused the summons, citing health reasons and the need to prepare for her pending trial.

If Park leaves early, either by resigning or by being forced out by impeachment, a new election for a full five-year presidential term must be held in 60 days.

The comments indicated Ms Park had not changed her mind in the face of intense pressure for her to resign immediately, with an effort to impeach her gaining support from even within her own party.

South Korea’s president Park Geun-Hye could soon be out of office amid a corruption and influence-peddling scandal that has been front-and-center for weeks.

After many protesters denounced the Saenuri Party during last weekend’s massive peaceful demonstrations across the country, there are indications that close to 40 ruling party members of parliament will support impeachment.

Other witnesses included Cha Eun-taek, a music video director who has been charged with using his ties with Choi to win key culture-related projects from government agencies, and Ko Young-tae, who ran a company that made bags and clothes that Park used during overseas trips at the introduction of Choi.

Park said she would await the court’s decision, which would take up to 180 days.

While she retains the presidency, Park can not be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she would lose that immunity once she leaves office.

She has brought lawsuits for defamation against journalists and engineered the dissolution of the far-left United Progressive Party, ousting elected parliamentarians on the pretext that the party was intent on realizing North Korean-style socialism, when in actuality they held critical views of U.S. military presence in their country and advocated détente with Pyongyang.

Park also agreed to allow the governing party lawmakers to freely vote on the impeachment motion.

Lawmakers asked the business leaders Tuesday whether Park’s office had pressured them into making the donations and whether they had received any special treatment in return. A joint meeting for all lawmakers with the three opposition parties is also being discussed. The president was able to postpone a impeachment vote last week with she offered to step down, but only after the National Assembly arranges for an orderly and stable transition of power.

Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong, arguably South Korea’s most powerful man, sat like a chastened schoolboy before the National Assembly on Tuesday while angry lawmakers reprimanded him one after another.

Even before the stunning fall of South Korea’s first female president over allegations that she ceded government power to a corrupt confidante, Park’s four years in office have been marred by a festering standoff with North Korea, a deadly ferry disaster and claims that she tried to curb free speech and labor rights. A failure to impeach her could turn the focus of public ire toward lawmakers on both sides.

A senior official in a Saenuri faction supporting Park’s removal expressed confidence in the outcome after a meeting Tuesday, saying “preparations are in place” for impeachment. He singled out Moon Jae-in, former Minjoo chairman, for criticism.

The longer the wait, the more chance of a reborn conservative party being able to rebuild around a candidate untouched by the current crisis – such as outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is set to return to his home country in January.