South Korea’s embattled leader Park Geun-hye expresses readiness to step down in April
South Korea’s scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye said on Tuesday she would accept the result of a looming and possibly lengthy impeachment process, but defied pressure to resign immediately.
The motion would then require the approval of the Constitutional Court, whose deliberations could take up to six months.
“Even if the impeachment bill is passed, I am resolved to continue calmly for the country and the people, while watching the Constitutional Court procedures,” Park was quoted as saying by Saenuri parliamentary floor leader Chung Jin-suk.
During an hour-long meeting with the president, Chung said he had told her that public sentiment had forced the Saenuri party to withdraw an earlier proposal for Park to step down voluntarily in April.
“She nodded and said she accepted my stance,” Chung said.
Watch: Park says she’ll resign
Hwang Young-cheul, one member of an anti-Park faction within the party, said the idea that the president could step down in April had “already been rejected by the people”.
Choi has been charged with meddling in state affairs and using her Blue House connections to force dozens of conglomerates to donate around US$70 million to two foundations she controlled.
In a first for a sitting South Korean president, Park has been named a “suspect” by prosecutors investigating Choi. While she retains the presidency, Park cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she would lose that immunity once she leaves office.