Park rejects face-to-face questioning

President Park Geun-hye's attorney on Monday said she will not respond to prosecutors' request for face-to-face questioning on the influence-peddling scandal that has rocked her presidency.

Yoo Yeong-ha said the president "will not be able to cooperate" with the inquiry, citing her busy schedule.

Prosecutors had requested Park to accept a face-to-face interrogation no later than Tuesday.

Park has been embroiled in the scandal surrounding her confidante Choi Soon-sil, who exerted influence on state affairs and enjoyed unlawful benefits without any official seat in Park's administration. Prosecutors earlier accused Park of being an accomplice in the corruption case.

Choi, along with several aides to the president, were earlier arrested on charges of abuse of power, coercion and fraud.

Yoo had claimed the investigation was based on "imagination and conjecture" and politically biased.

(YONHAP)