UPDATE - SKorean leader picks lawyer for unprecedented probe

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS FROM FORMER OPPOSITION LEADER

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye appointed a lawyer Tuesday ahead of a face-to-face meeting with prosecutors, as Seoul’s leadership crisis continues.

Park conceded earlier this month that she would cooperate with investigators looking into a power abuse scandal that has rocked the South’s presidential office. She is set to become the nation’s first sitting president to be questioned by prosecutors.

Having overseen the introduction of tough anti-corruption legislation since she began a five-year term in 2013, Park has been linked to a scam in which large conglomerates allegedly bought favors via presidential aides and a private confidante, Choi Soon-sil.

With a number of other claims also arising in the local media about Park and the extent of Choi’s influence, a spokesperson for the president denounced the emergence of “regrettable” false reports.

Park has already issued two public apologies admitting to seeking Choi’s advice in the past.

After public calls for the president’s resignation reached a crescendo in the form of a rally reportedly involving more than million protesters in Seoul over the weekend, prosecutors are hoping for an unprecedented direct questioning session this Wednesday.

Lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha is the attorney picked to represent the president -- a former prosecutor and legal adviser to Park, his first task may be to delay the probe until next week so as to have more time to prepare.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers are still refusing attempts at a political solution to a weeks-long deadlock.

Democratic Party chief Choo Mi-ae surprised some onlookers by proposing talks with Park on Monday before retracting her offer under pressure from an opposition bloc that is adamant the president should step down.

Meanwhile, the party’s former leader Moon Jae-in vowed to launch an anti-Park movement.

"Now, the situation has reached a point of no return," local news agency Yonhap quoted him as saying. "I, along with citizens, will set out to conduct a nationwide campaign for Park's resignation until she declares she will unconditionally step aside."