SOUTH Korean prosecutors said yesterday that they believe President Park Geun-hye conspired in criminal activities of a confidante who allegedly exploited her presidential ties to amass an illicit fortune — a damning revelation that may convince opposition parties to push for Park’s impeachment.

    Prosecutors want to interrogate Park in person, but presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk, who said the investigation resembled a “character assassination” on Park, strongly hinted that the president would continue to refuse their questioning.

    Prosecutors yesterday formally charged the confidante, Park’s longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, on suspicion of interfering with state affairs and bullying companies into giving tens of millions of dollars to foundations and businesses she controlled.

    In a televised news conference, Lee Young-ryeol, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, said that based on the evidence, “the president was collusively involved in a considerable part of the criminal activities by suspects Choi, Ahn Jong-beom and Jung Ho-sung.” He was referring to two presidential aides who also were formally charged yesterday for allegedly helping Choi.

    “However, because of the president’s impunity from prosecution stated in Article 84 of the constitution, we cannot indict the president,” Lee said. “The special investigation headquarters will continue to push for an investigation of the president based on this judgment.”

    Jung Youn-kuk said details announced by Lee were “entirely untrue, and are just a tower built on sand, based on imagination and guesswork and ignorance of objective facts.”

    “We do not think that the prosecution’s investigation so far has been fair and politically neutral,” he said.

    Jung said that the president plans to prove her innocence by “actively cooperating” with an independent investigation pushed by a special prosecutor. Park has immunity, but can be investigated.

    The country’s largest opposition party, the Minjoo, issued a statement yesterday calling for Park to immediately resign, saying that a “criminal suspect” should not be allowed to lead the country.

    Eight prominent leaders of the three parliamentary opposition parties gathered before issuing a joint statement yesterday calling for their parties to begin discussions on an impeachment push.

    Ahn, Park’s former senior secretary for policy coordination, was charged with abuse of authority, coercion and attempted coercion over allegations that he pressured companies into making large donations to foundations and companies Choi controlled.

    Jung Ho-sung, the other former aide who was indicted, was accused of passing on classified presidential documents to Choi, including information on ministerial candidates.

    Prosecutors are also seeking to indict Cha Eun-taek, a famous music video director who allegedly used his close relationship with Choi to win lucrative government culture projects, and former vice sports minister Kim Chong, suspected of providing business favors to sports organizations controlled by Choi. Kim is also under suspicion of influencing the ministry’s decision to financially support a sports foundation run by Choi’s niece, who prosecutors detained Friday.

    Park’s term lasts until Feb. 24, 2018. If she steps down before the presidential vote Dec. 20, 2017, an election must be held within 60 days.(SD-Agencies)