Asia

S. Korean lawmakers pass law on independent probe of Park

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Protesters supporting South Korean President Park Geun-hye wave national flags during a rally opposing her resignation in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. South Korean prosecutors want to question Park this week over suspicion that she let a shadowy longtime confidante manipulate power from behind the scenes, an official said Sunday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

Protesters supporting South Korean President Park Geun-hye wave national flags during a rally opposing her resignation in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. South Korean prosecutors want to question Park this week over the suspicion that she let a shadowy longtime confidante manipulate power from behind the scenes, an official said Sunday. The letters read " Opposed Resignation" (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

Protesters supporting South Korean President Park Geun-hye shout slogans during a rally opposing the resignation of Park in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. South Korean prosecutors want to question Park this week over the suspicion that she let a shadowy, longtime confidante manipulate power from behind the scenes, an official said Sunday. The letters read "Opposed Resignation" (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

South Korea's parliament has passed a law that would allow a special prosecutor to investigate a corruption scandal threatening the presidency of Park Geun-hye.

The opposition-controlled National Assembly also on Thursday voted for a parliamentary investigation into allegations that Park allowed a secretive confidante to manipulate power from the shadows and amass an illicit fortune.

The law on an independent investigation comes as state prosecutors prepare to indict Park's friend by Sunday. Prosecutors are also seeking to question Park but her lawyer has asked for more time.

Park has apologized for letting her friend Choi Soon-sil edit some of her draft speeches and for the public anger caused by the scandal. But she has not commented on the most damning accusations that she let Choi manipulate government affairs.