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Tuesday, 3 January 2017

South Korean leader Park absent as impeachment hearing begins

South Korean President Park Geun-hye listens to a reporter's question during a meeting with reporters at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, in this handout picture provided by the Presidential Blue House and released by Yonhap on 1 January 2017.
Ms Park met reporters on New Year's Day but did not show up at Tuesday's court session
South Korea's constitutional court has held a brief first hearing on Park Geun-hye's impeachment, which the beleaguered president failed to attend.

The session was closed after nine minutes and postponed to Thursday because of Ms Park's absence.
Lawmakers voted to impeach Ms Park last month over a corruption scandal.
Park Han-chul (C), president of the Constitutional Court of Korea, and eight judges preside over a hearing on the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, 3 January 2017.
Nine judges will decide whether Ms Park should step down
Her close confidante Choi Soon-sil has been charged with abuse of power. Ms Park is alleged to have been involved as well, which she denies.
South Korea's Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the confidante of disgraced President Park Geun-hye, in custody after her court hearing Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, in Aalborg, Denmark
Ms Chung (right), the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, was seen at a court hearing in Denmark on Monday
Ms Park's impeachment case is being heard in a court by nine judges. They have 180 days to decide whether Ms Park, who has been suspended from duties, should go or stay.

Though the court has requested her presence, Ms Park's lawyer has said she will not attend "unless there are special circumstances", Yonhap news agency reported. If Ms Park fails to appear for a second time on Thursday, the hearing can proceed without her.

The justices will be assessing whether Ms Park abused her power, took part in bribery and violated the rule of law, among other issues, reported the Korea Times.

Ms Park met reporters on 1 January to strongly deny allegations from prosecutors that she was involved in Ms Choi's dealings, calling them "distorted and false" suspicions.
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