Impeached South Korea president tells court of ‘regret’

Seoul, Monday

South Korea’s president has expressed “belated regret” over the scandal that triggered her impeachment, as the Constitutional Court wrapped up hearings on her fate.

Park Geun-Hye (pictured) was elected in 2012 with the highest vote share of any presidential candidate in South Korea’s democratic era.

But she was impeached by parliament in December over a massive corruption and influence-peddling scandal that prompted millions to take to the streets to call for her ouster.

She has since been on trial for her political life at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, which is set to decide in March whether to approve her removal from office — which would trigger new elections — or return her to the Blue House.

Park has not attended any of the hearings, which began last month. Her lawyers maintain that she was not aware of any wrongdoing and blamed her secret confidante Choi Soon-Sil, who is accused of using her presidential ties to force local firms to “donate” nearly $70 million to non-profit foundations.

In a statement read by her advocate, Park reiterated that her only fault was trusting Choi and seeking advice from her longtime friend. — AFP

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