Park digs in; tycoons deny seeking favours

Seoul

SOUTH Korean President Park Geun-hye, engulfed in an influence peddling scandal, said if she was impeached she would wait for a court to uphold the decision, a party official said on Tuesday, a sign that a political crisis could drag on for months.

Ms Park's embattled presidency faces a critical juncture, with Parliament expected to hold an impeachment vote on Friday. Even if the motion is passed, it must be upheld by the Constitutional Court, a process that could take at least months.

Separately, South Korea's most prominent corporate chiefs told a parliamentary panel they had not sought favours when they made contributions to two foundations at the heart of the scandal, even as one of them acknowledged it was hard to say "no" to the government. "It's a South Korean reality that if there is a government request, it is difficult fo…