South Korea President to Skip Cabinet Meeting Amid Impeachment Threats

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye will be absent from the cabinet meeting on Tuesday after opposition promised to impeach her for alleged corruption, local media reported Monday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Instead, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Il-ho will preside over the meeting, a source in Park’s administration told the Korean news agency Yonhap.

Park has been under scrutiny after the arrest of her long-time confidante Choi Soon-sil on suspicion she used her friendship with the president to extort money from businesses.

Choi was indicted on corruption and influence-peddling charges by federal prosecutors on Sunday. Investigators said Park was suspected of having played a role in the case.

This prompted the main opposition party, the Democrats, to consider steps needed to impeach the president, although its leader said it would be better for the country if she stepped down voluntarily.