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2nd LD Writethru: S. Korean president says to follow parliamentary decision including shortened presidency

Xinhua, November 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that she will follow any parliamentary decision on her fate, including a shortened presidency.

She made the comments during her third televised address to the nation since a scandal involving herself and her longtime confidante emerged in October.

"If ruling and opposition parties find a way through discussion to minimize confusion and vacuum in state affairs and to stably transfer power, (I) will step down from the presidency in accordance with the schedules and legal proceedings (determined by the parliament)," said Park.

Park didn't mention voluntary resignation, demanded by opposition parties and the general public and even by some members of her ruling Saenuri Party.

The third national address came ahead of the scheduled parliamentary vote on a bill to impeach the embattled president as early as Dec. 2 and no later than Dec. 9.

Park said it was all her "big" fault to mismanage personal relationships around her, stressing she hadn't pursued any personal gains "for a flash" as she believed that things would contribute to public interests.

Prosecutors have said Park conspired with Choi Soon-sil, her decades-long friend who has been indicted on charges including abuse of power and extortion. Park became the first South Korean president to be investigated as a criminal suspect.

Large conglomerates had allegedly been pressured by Choi into donating tens of millions of U.S. dollars to two nonprofit foundations Choi actually controls.

Choi has also been accused of having illegal access to secret presidential documents under the connivance or protection of the first South Korean female leader.

The scandal-plagued president made her renewed apology to the public, saying it shattered her heart to be unable to appease people's anger and big disappointment.

It marks Park's third public apology, following the second on Nov. 4 and the first on Oct. 25.

Park added she will elaborate on what's the truth behind the biggest political scandal she ever faced since her inauguration in February 2013, indicating her news conference on the scandal in the near future. Endit