South Korean leader pressured to extend presidential probe

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL

Political pressure mounted on acting South Korean leader Hwang Kyo- Sunday, as opposition parties came together to urge the extension of a special investigation into the country’s ongoing presidential scandal.

The probe team has until February 28 to wrap up a 70-day examination of power abuse allegations that led to President Park Geun- December 9 impeachment as well as multiple arrests, including Friday’s detention of Samsung chief Lee Jae-.

With Park resisting interrogation and a number of business leaders yet to come under close scrutiny, special investigators asked for a one-month extension last Thursday – but they still await Hwang’s permission.

The floor leaders of four opposition parties released a joint statement Sunday calling for a speedy response.

“We agreed that acting President Hwang should accept the call for a probe extension,” they said, according to local news agency Yonhap.

“(He) is urged to clarify his stance on the probe extension by Tuesday.”

The demand reflected the rallying cry of hundreds of thousands of protesters in Seoul a night earlier during the nation’s 16th consecutive weekend of anti-government mass demonstrations.

In addition to Hwang’s decision on extending the special investigation, the Constitutional Court is set to hold its final hearing of Park’s impeachment case this Friday.

If the court decides to oust Park, she would lose her protection from direct prosecution and a snap election would be triggered to pick her successor within 60 days.