SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korean prosecutors said Wednesday they plan to question ousted President Park Geun-hye next week about the corruption scandal that removed her from office, as the government announced that an election will be held on May 9 to pick her successor.
Park lost her presidential immunity from prosecution after the Constitutional Court ruled Friday to formally end her rule over allegations that she colluded with longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil to extort money from businesses and allowed Choi to pull government strings from the shadows.
Prosecutors said they told Park’s lawyer that they’ll summon her next Tuesday as a suspect in the scandal. Park’s lawyer later said Park would “faithfully” undergo the questioning, according to the prosecutors’ office.
Dozens of high-profile figures including Choi, some top Park administration officials and Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong have already been indicted in the scandal.
Park could also face extortion, bribery and other criminal charges. She has denied any legal wrongdoing and expressed defiance toward the corruption allegations.