[Photo by Namkung Jin-woong = timeid@]
South Korea's cabinet endorsed a parliamentary bill Tuesday to kickstart a special counsel investigation into President Park Geun-hye accused of colluding with aides in a corruption scandal that sparked a wave of anti-government protests.
The bill was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho and endorsed later by President Park, who has been under enormous public pressure to take her hands off state affairs and step down.
Park should nominate one of two candidates recommended by opposition parties. A special counsel will lead dozens of investigators for months before bringing charges, a method favored by Park because she can earn time to defend herself.
The scandal over Park's longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil, has seriously tarnished Park's image and authority, triggering the worst crisis of her political career.
Park has said she was ready to face an investigation by state prosecutors or a special counsel. But she rejected a face-to-face interrogation prosecutors following their announcement Sunday that the president should be investigated as a criminal suspect implicated directly and indirectly in the scandal.
The disgraced president has resisted widespread public calls for her immediate resignation, although she was in a serious leadership crisis.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
