Opposition leader says her party will review timing, ways to push for Park's impeachment

The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party said her party will immediately review the timing and ways for impeaching President Park Geun-hye, who the prosecution has listed as a suspect in a corruption scandal involving her confidante.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae also said her party will set up an apparatus to push for Park's impeachment. But she stressed that the "best way" to move the nation forward is still for the president to voluntarily step down.

"Park must step down. Under this stance, we will review Park's impeachment and the issue of forming an interim Cabinet at a proper time," Choo said during a meeting of senior party officials.

Her remarks came a day after presidential hopefuls from the opposition bloc called on the three opposition parties, including the People's Party and Justice Party, to begin discussions for Park's impeachment.

The opposition bigwigs made the call shortly after the prosecution claimed Park's complicity in the high-profile scandal implicating her friend Choi Soon-sil and her former aides, including An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong.

As the prosecution announced the interim results of its probe, it indicted Choi, An and Jeong on various charges including abuse of authority, coercion and leak of confidential documents.

Opposition parties initially showed reluctance to push for Park's impeachment -- a time-consuming process, which could trigger a public backlash should the Constitutional Court reject it during its judgment over Park's alleged improprieties.

But the impeachment discussions gained traction after the prosecution pinpointed the president as an accomplice in "considerable parts" of the alleged criminal acts involving Choi, An and Jeong.

(YONHAP)