Ousted Korean president Park makes first court appearance - as inmate No 503

Seoul

PARK Geun-hye, South Korea's recently impeached and ousted president, made her first appearance in court on Tuesday as one of the biggest trials in the country's history began.

Park, the first former president to face trial in two decades, was indicted last month on 18 criminal charges, including collecting or demanding bribes worth US$52 million from big businesses, mostly from Samsung, South Korea's largest conglomerate.

Park's appearance at Seoul Central District Court was her first trip out of jail, where she has been living in a solitary cell since she was arrested on March 31.

Park was formally removed from office over corruption and abuse of power on March 10. She was the first South Korean leader unseated in response to popular demands since 1960, when the country's founding presid…