Seoul Mayor Calls on President Park to Resign Over 'Shadow Adviser' Controversy

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, who is a potential candidate in the upcoming Korean presidential elections, on Wednesday called for the immediate resignation of President Park Geun-hye over a scandal concerning the so-called "shadow adviser," Choi Soon-sil.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On October 24, the JTBC television network reported that Choi had been allegedly receiving drafts of Park’s speeches before they were publicly delivered, even though she had never held a public post. The following day, Park officially admitted asking Choi for advice on speeches and public relations issues, and apologized for "causing public concern."

"Park should immediately step down. The president has lost her authority and the trust [of the people]," the mayor said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

He also called for an investigation into the president's actions.

South Korean prosecutors placed Choi in emergency detention on Monday and have requested an arrest warrant earlier on Wednesday.

The scandal and the drastically falling level of support for the president have already caused a reshuffle of the government. Earlier in the day, Kim Byong-joon, adviser of former South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, was appointed as the new prime minister. Park also decided to appoint head of the Financial Services Commission Yim Jong-yong as the new South Korean finance minister.