Park emerges from seclusion, denies wrongdoing in scandal

Seoul

SOUTH Korea's impeached President Park Geun Hye on Sunday broke a month-long silence over her alleged role in a corruption scandal, publicly denying charges of wrongdoing and saying that the accusations against her were "fabrication and falsehood". Ms Park also said that she was set up over allegations that she ordered the government to support a 2015 merger of two affiliates of South Korean conglomerate Samsung, a deal which has become central to the investigation. "It's completely framed," she was quoted by local media as saying, without elaborating.

Ms Park is being investigated over accusations that she gave favours to big businesses in return for financial contributions to entities controlled by her friend, Choi Soon Sil.