Prosecutors Link South Korean President to Corruption Scandal

A faction of lawmakers in Park Geun-hye's ruling party is calling for her ouster, putting the opposition closer to the numbers needed to impeach South Korea's president over an influence-peddling scandal shaking Asia's fourth-biggest economy.Thirty-five Saenuri lawmakers estranged from the party held a meeting after prosecutors said Sunday she "colluded" with former aides in the corruption case. Thirty-two agreed to pursue Park's impeachment and demand that she leave the party, with lawmaker Hwang Young-cheul saying in a briefing that the number of proponents will increase.In response to the allegations, the presidential Blue House on Sunday questioned the neutrality of the prosecutors, saying the interim investigation was being conducted as if she committed a serious crime. The president's lawyer also rejected the results of the probe, saying they are based on "imagination and conjecture."Park has shown few signs that she plans to step down any time soon, despite hundreds of thousands of protesters gathering near the presidential compound over the past two weekends to demand her resignation and arrest. While the nation's constitution protects a president from being indicted, it allows for impeachment should two-thirds of the 300-member National Assembly approve.Lawmakers from the three opposition parties control a combined 165 seats, while Park's ruling Saenuri Party has 129 seats. Six are with unaffiliated members.  Continue reading...