SKorean president’s impeachment process gathers pace

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - South Korea’s embattled President Park Geun-hye is facing the increasing likelihood of lawmakers voting for her impeachment after an influential ruling party representative condemned her leadership Wednesday.

Former Saenuri Party chief Kim Moo-sung confirmed at a briefing that he would push to impeach the president, echoing the stance of the opposition bloc earlier this week.

He claimed she has “betrayed the people” through her alleged involvement in a power abuse scandal that has triggered more than a month of public protests and dragged her approval rating to just five percent.

Two Saenuri lawmakers left the party Tuesday, and Kim’s stance further raises the probability of there being enough votes to trigger impeachment proceedings as early as next week despite the pro-Park base within the ruling camp.

State prosecutors are unable to indict Park due to her position although they have brought charges against several figures close to her.

Park became the first sitting South Korean president to be named as a criminal suspect last Sunday -- the allegations against her include pressuring conglomerates to donate money and giving away government secrets to a private confidante.

That has apparently led to the offer to quit by Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong, who oversees the prosecution -- news of Kim’s resignation emerged Wednesday with Park yet to accept the move.

Having effectively accused prosecutors of political bias, the presidential office is placing its faith in an independent investigation.

“We believe balanced and neutral figures will be selected to carry out the investigation,” a spokesperson for Park told reporters.

But the president has agreed to choose a counsel to lead the probe from candidates put forward by the main opposition parties.