South Korea’s Park goes on trial over graft

SEOUL // South Korea’s ousted president Park Geun- hye, who was taken to court handcuffed, went on trial yesterday over a corruption scandal that brought millions on to the streets and led to her downfall.

Only two months after leaving the presidential palace in disgrace, Ms Park appeared at the Seoul central district court with a badge bearing her prisoner number pinned to her blue trouser suit. She avoided meeting the glance of her longtime secret confidante and co-accused Choi Soon-sil.

The trial, expected to last months, is the final act in the drama that engulfed Ms Park, the daughter of a dictator who went on to be elected president herself before being sacked by the country’s top court.

Ms Park, 65, is the third former South Korean leader to stand trial for corruption.

She was impeached by parliament in December after mass demonstrations – fuelled by economic and social frustrations – demanding her removal over a scandal centred on Ms Choi, her friend of 40 years, and implicating some of the country’s top businessmen. Ms Park was detained soon after her dismissal. Yesterday’s court session was her first public appearance since then. She was also indicted on 18 charges including bribery, coercion and abuse of power for offering government favours to tycoons.