Rep. Choo Mi-ae, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, on Monday proposed talks with President Park Geun-hye to discuss a way to address a political impasse sparked by a corruption scandal involving the president's longtime confidante.
A source said that Choo made the overture for dialogue to Han Gwang-ok, Park's chief of staff, early this morning.
The proposal followed the weekend's massive rally in downtown Seoul, which called for Park's resignation. The Democratic Party, along with other opposition parties, joined the rally where organizers said some 1 million citizens gathered.
The main opposition party has so far demanded that Park publicly declare she retreat from state affairs, a move to make the president a ceremonial head of state. But the presidential office has indicated that Park will exercise her lawful authority enshrined in the Constitution, such as her control over the military. (Yonhap)