S Korea's Park colluded with friend in corruption scandal: prosecutors

Seoul

SOUTH Korean prosecutors said on Sunday that President Park Geun-hye colluded with her close confidante in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal that has sparked massive nationwide protests and calls for her impeachment.

Ms Park's long-time friend Choi Soon-sil was charged on Sunday with coercion and abuse of power, as was one of the president's former aides.

Another presidential aide was charged with leaking confidential state documents.

"The president played a collusive role in a considerable portion of the criminal activities involving the (three) people," said Lee Young-Ryeol, a Seoul pr…