Park to present her statement to Constitutional Court to rebut impeachment grounds

President Park Geun-hye will make her case to the Consitutional Court on Friday in a written statement addressing a series of charges cited in the parliamentary impeachment motion via her legal representatives, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.

The statement will be handed in to the court at 3:00 p.m., Cheong Wa Dae said.

After the National Assembly voted last Friday to impeach the president over a corruption scandal involving her and a longtime friend, the top court demanded Park submit her statement for its legal review by Friday. The court deliberation could take up to six months.

The court will determine whether to remove the beleaguered leader from office or reinstate her. Should it decide to unseat her, the country is to hold a presidential election within 60 days of the decision.

The statement is expected to include Park's rebuttals of the grounds the Assembly has cited for impeachment, observers said. The legislature has listed 13 charges-- five constitutional violations and eight legal offenses.

Park is suspected of playing a role in pressuring local conglomerates into donating large sums of money to two nonprofit foundations that were controlled by her friend Choi Soon-sil. The president is also alleged to have allowed Choi, with no official post, to exert undue influence on the government, including presidential affairs and even top-level appointments.

Park has denied all these accusations, calling them "unfounded."

Upon the submission of her document to the court, the list of Park's attorneys is expected to be made public.

(YONHAP)