South Korean President Park Geun-hye offers to step down Tuesday Nov 29,2016

 

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday Nov 29,2016 asked parliament to find a way for her to give up power and decide when she should step down amid an influence-peddling scandal, but the opposition said she was just trying to avoid impeachment

"I will leave to parliament everything about my future including shortening of my term," she said in a brief televised speech.

"I will step down from my position according to the law once a way is formed to pass on the administration in a stable manner that will also minimise political unrest and vacuum after ruling and opposition parties' discussion."

The main opposition Democratic Party rejected Park's offer, calling it a ploy to escape being impeached

On Saturday Nov 26,2016, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans rallied for the fifth weekend in a row, calling for Park's resignation. Organisers said the crowd totalled 1.5 million, while the police estimated the crowd at 260,000.

No South Korean president has failed to complete a term since the current democratic system was implemented in 1987.

 If South Korean President Park Geun-hye is impeached or resigns, an election would be held in 60 days to nominate a president to serve a five-year term.