▲ Leaders of three opposition parties on November 17 have a meeting in the National Assembly and reconfirm their coordinated efforts to call for the resignation of President Park Geun-hye. From left : Park Jie-won, chairman of the Emergency Countermeasures Committee of the People's Party, Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of the Minjoo(Democratic) Party of Korea and Sim Sang-jeong, chairwoman of the Justice Party. (Yeon Yoon-jeong)
The National Assembly on November 17 held its plenary session and passed a bill to appoint an independent counsel to investigate into a wide range of allegations that Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye's close friend and their associates were involved in the manipulation of state affairs and corruption. The National Assembly also endorsed the parliamentary investigation plan for the President Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil scandal.
The independent counsel probe team will consist of 1 special prosecutor and 4 assistant special prosecutors who will be supported by 20 prosecutors and 40 special investigators dispatched from the Prosecutors Office. The investigation is expected to start from mid-December after 20 days of preparation period and the probe can be carried out for the maximum period of 120 days.
reported by Yeon Yoon-jeong
translated by Kim Sung-jin