Choi Soon-sil

Former President Park Geun-hye denied corruption charges Tuesday at the start of a criminal trial that could potentially send South Korea's first female leader to prison for life.

Police had earlier escorted Park, in handcuffs, into court for her first public appearance since she was jailed on March 31 for corruption allegations that led to her removal from office.

Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee will go on trial for bribery and embezzlement on March 2, a court said, amid a corruption scandal that has rocked South Korea and led to the impeachment of the president. 

A Buddhist monk is critically ill after setting himself on fire in protest at South Korea’s deal with Japan over its sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War Two.

The 64-year-old man suffered third-degree burns and remains unconscious in hospital, officials say.

The daughter of Choi Soon-Sil, the woman at the center of a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of South Korea's President, has been arrested in Denmark after months in hiding, Seoul prosecutors said Dec. 2.  

South Korea’s National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of impeaching President Park Geun-hye over her role in a corruption scandal, compelling her to turn over the reins of power to an interim prime minister.

South Korean prosecutors said on Nov. 20 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.

Park's longtime friend Choi Soon-Sil was charged on Nov. 20 with coercion and abuse of power, as was one of the president's former aides.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye faced mounting calls to step down as a record number of people at a massive rally on Nov. 12 criticized her as unfit to rule over allegations she allowed a friend to meddle in state affairs and wield influence.

A South Korean court said on Nov. 6 it had issued arrest warrants for two former presidential aides under investigation  in an influence peddling scandal that has sent President Park Geun-hye's approval rating to a record low. 

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Nov. 4 said the scandal involving her long-time confidante Choi Soon-Sil was "all my fault," and agreed to be questioned in a formal corruption probe. 

In a highly personal televised address to the nation, while accepting that the scandal was her fault, she denied reports linking her and Choi to a religious cult. 

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye replaced her prime minister and finance minister Nov. 2, as she scrambled to contain a damaging scandal over a close friend accused of meddling in state affairs.

The top-level reshuffle, which also saw a new public safety minister, was the latest attempt to appease growing public anger with the president and her administration.