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By Kang Seung-woo
Embattled President Park Geun-hye and her loyalists within the ruling party are maneuvering to buy time to dodge questioning by the prosecution over a corruption scandal, ignoring a public outcry for her resignation.
Following Saturday's massive rally protesting the scandal involving Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil, the President now has few options to normalize the domestic political situation other than resignation or a power transfer.
However, Park and her supporters still insist on the disgraced President's dignity, refusing to let go of power.
Analysts expect that Park's resistance will spark a more intense public backlash, leading the National Assembly to initiate a motion to impeach her.
"While the corruption scandal is widening and she is emerging as a prime suspect, it is virtually impossible for Park to restore public trust in her government," said Yoon Hee-woong, a senior researcher at Opinion Live.
"Despite the political turmoil, Park is not showing any signs that she will pay attention to the public pressure to quit, creating further confusion."
Ahead of the planned questioning of Park, she retained lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha, considered a loyalist, who asked the prosecution to delay interviewing Park, citing a lack of time to review the case.
Her attorney also asked that prosecutors submit a questionnaire to the President rather than questioning her in person.
On Wednesday, the prosecution urged President Park to face questioning by Friday, saying that she is at the center of the Choi scandal.
"Considering her lawyer's remarks, it does not seem possible to question the President by Thursday. Our position is to interview her on Wednesday, but we could postpone it until Friday," said a prosecutor, confirming the preference for a face-to-face session.
Yoo's requests are drawing massive criticism, with critics accusing the presidential office of a failure to grasp the gravity of the current situation.
"Cheong Wa Dae and pro-Park lawmakers of the Saenuri Party are opposing the public outcry for her resignation, buying time to work their way out of the current difficulties," said floor leader Park Jie-won of the second-largest opposition People's Party in a meeting, Wednesday.
"Following the confirmation of public opinion in the candlelit rally, how can they act in such a way?"
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae said President Park's situational awareness was horrible.
"The request by the president's lawyer was ridiculous," she said at the party's Supreme Council meeting.
"While allegations regarding the scandal are raised on a daily basis, how could he call for a written inquiry, rejecting face-to-face questioning?"
Choo added that her party plans to form a committee to launch a campaign to oust the President.
In the wake of the influence-peddling scandal, in which Park's confidant meddled in state affairs to benefit her private interests, Saenuri Party Chairman Lee Jung-hyun is under heavy pressure to step down for the party's failure to check the presidential office.
Some stress the need to take aggressive measures to win back public trust, including disbanding the fractured party. In addition, a group of lawmakers, who have demanded the resignation of loyalists to President Park from key party posts, launched their own emergency committee, Tuesday, to drive out pro-Park figures.
However, the chairman criticized such a move, showing no sign of turning against the President.
"Disbanding the party is an act of disloyalty to hundreds of thousands of party members across the nation," Lee said.
"The establishment of the unauthorized committee will draw a strong backlash from them, as well."
Cho Jin-man, a professor of political science at Duksung Women's University, said, "President Park is apparently seeking ways to remain in office as long as possible. However, at this point, there is no other option but to step down."
He added: "Unless she heeds public sentiment, it will be inevitable that she will face a confrontation with the people. But she will not be able to win them over."
With Park refusing to resign, the Assembly, including members from her own party, is beginning to call for her impeachment.
"The three opposition parties will hold a leaders' meeting to discuss ways to oust President Park," said Rep. Park Jie-won, hinting at impeaching the head of state.
Park Wan-joo, the DPK's deputy floor leader, also said, "Unless she announces her resignation, there are only two options — impeachment or a campaign to force her out."
Last week, Kim Moo-sung, a former party chairman, also insisted that the Assembly impeach Park for violating her constitutional obligations as president.
Impeachment requires more than two thirds of the votes in the 300-seat Assembly, and given the opposition bloc occupies 200, an impeachment motion will require at least 29 votes from the Saenuri Party.
