Opposition lawmakers greet President Park Geun-hye with placards calling for her resignation in parliament. [Photo by Namgung Jin-woong = timeid@ajunews.com]
South Korea's disgraced President Park Geun-hye resumed her public activities Tuesday only to hold a brief political conversation in parliament, ending her self-imposed confinement in her office for two weeks.
The scandal-stricken leader was not welcomed. TV footages showed a silent standing protest by a dozen opposition legislators, who held up placards urging Park to stay away from politics or step down, at the entrance of the National Assembly hall.
Park was allowed to hold just a 13-minute conversation with National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun without seeing any opposition leaders.
The unacclaimed visit was aimed at ending a political deadlock caused by Park's controversial ties with Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend arrested for meddling in state affairs. But opposition leaders have refused to talk with Park.
On Monday, Choo Mi-ae, the leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, threatened to join anti-government protests calling for Park's resignation if she continues to ignore an opposition request for a neutral cabinet.
Park has named Kim Byong-joon, a 62-year-old college professor who served as a presidential aide for South Korea's late liberal president Roh Moo-hyun, as her new prime minister. Opposition parties have refused to approve the nomination.
Last week Park, who took office in early 2013 as South Korea's first female president, said she was ready to face an investigation by state prosecutors or an independent counsel, blaming herself for inviting a political crisis.
The president appealed for the early normalization of government administration, expressing concern about a power vacuum. Public resentment, however, remained unabated. Tens of thousands of protesters staged a candle-lit rally in central Seoul last Saturday, demanding Park's impeachment and resignation.
Prosecutors have arrested Choi on charges of attempted fraud and abuse of authority as well as two former presidential aides.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
