SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean lawmakers say President Park Geun-hye is willing to “calmly” accept impeachment if the opposition-controlled parliament votes for her removal this week, but prefers to resign on her own terms.
Chung Jinsuk, floor leader of the conservative ruling party, said Tuesday after an hour-long meeting with Park that she was willing to accept a now-withdrawn proposal by the party for her to voluntarily step down in April to set up a presidential election in June.
Lee Jung Hyun, a ruling party lawmaker who attended the meeting, says it seems that Park hopes lawmakers will accept her resignation rather than push ahead with an attempt to impeach her.
Park has been accused of helping a close confidante extort from companies and manipulate state affairs.