South Korean president shuns impeachment hearing

South Korea's Constitutional Court on Tuesday held its first full hearing on whether to confirm the impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye but she stayed away from the session. The nine-judge court must decide whether to affirm parliament's vote on December 9 to impeach Park over a corruption scandal which has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets every week. Tuesday's hearing, which followed three preparatory court sessions last month, lasted only nine minutes.
The court last week ruled that Park was not required to appear for questioning. "We will do our best to conduct a fair and thorough review of the case," said Judge Park Han-Chul. Regardless of whether Park shows up when the hearing resumes Thursday, the case will go ahead.
Her lawyers said she was unlikely to attend future hearings. Park has been suspended from executive duties and the country is being temporarily led by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn. The Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether to confirm Park's impeachment. If it does, a presidential election must be held within two months. Park is accused of colluding with close friend Choi Soon-Sil to coerce big companies into handing over nearly $70 million to dubious foundations which Choi controlled and allegedly plundered. Choi - dubbed South Korea's "Rasputin" due to her influence over the president - is now on trial for coercion and abuse of power and her daughter has been detained in Denmark as the scandal spreads.