By Kim Hyo-jin
President Park Geun-hye has said that no serious crime was committed to justify her removal from office, denying all allegations in the Assembly impeachment motion as "groundless."
Amid growing calls for the Constitutional Court's speedy deliberation on the impeachment, she is urging the court to wait for the results of a criminal trial of suspects in the corruption scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
Her written statement on the impeachment charges, submitted to the Constitutional Court Friday, was unveiled Sunday, during a meeting of the National Assembly's panel to carry out follow-up steps for the impeachment.
The panel said it will submit its statement rebutting Park's arguments by Dec. 22.
The Assembly voted to impeach Park on Dec. 9, citing the President's alleged constitutional and law violations including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and dereliction of duty of the day of the Sewol ferry sinking, which claimed more than 300 lives.
In the gist of the 24-page document, Park's legal representatives argued, "The allegations for impeachment are not true and have no evidence to back them up. They are based on mere suspicions, violating the presumption of innocence."
They asserted that holding Park accountable for Choi Soon-sil's liabilities corresponds to "guilt by association," which goes against the Constitution.
They said the court should deliberate on bribery charges and others related to Choi's wrongdoings after the first criminal trial on Choi and Park's former presidential aides.
Analysts view that Park's attorneys are seeking to delay the Constitutional Court's deliberations.
The Constitutional Court is reviewing the impeachment motion submitted by the Assembly, which could take up to 180 days.
However, opposition parties as well as the people have urged the court to review the impeachment charges quickly, even calling for selective deliberations to oust the embattled head of state.
The passage of the impeachment motion came after the prosecution identified Park as an accomplice of her confidant Choi in late November, labeling her a criminal suspect.
Choi was charged with extorting tens of millions of dollars from conglomerates to set up two foundations ― Mir and K-Sports ― she controlled, and interfering with state affairs, despite having no official post, under Park's support.
Park's representatives argued that the President did not recognize Choi was taking personal benefits and that the Mir and K-Sports foundations, only a fraction of Park's state affairs, were created in the public's interest, not for personal gain.
They stressed Park had no intention to solicit bribes as she did not ask the conglomerates to provide funds in return for anything.
They also denied Choi's involvement in Park's appointment of public officials.
Regarding the Sewol ferry sinking, they argued it cannot be an appropriate reason to impeach the President just because the rescue operations were not sufficient.
President Park Geun-hye has said that no serious crime was committed to justify her removal from office, denying all allegations in the Assembly impeachment motion as "groundless."
Amid growing calls for the Constitutional Court's speedy deliberation on the impeachment, she is urging the court to wait for the results of a criminal trial of suspects in the corruption scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
Her written statement on the impeachment charges, submitted to the Constitutional Court Friday, was unveiled Sunday, during a meeting of the National Assembly's panel to carry out follow-up steps for the impeachment.
The panel said it will submit its statement rebutting Park's arguments by Dec. 22.
The Assembly voted to impeach Park on Dec. 9, citing the President's alleged constitutional and law violations including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and dereliction of duty of the day of the Sewol ferry sinking, which claimed more than 300 lives.
In the gist of the 24-page document, Park's legal representatives argued, "The allegations for impeachment are not true and have no evidence to back them up. They are based on mere suspicions, violating the presumption of innocence."
They asserted that holding Park accountable for Choi Soon-sil's liabilities corresponds to "guilt by association," which goes against the Constitution.
They said the court should deliberate on bribery charges and others related to Choi's wrongdoings after the first criminal trial on Choi and Park's former presidential aides.
Analysts view that Park's attorneys are seeking to delay the Constitutional Court's deliberations.
The Constitutional Court is reviewing the impeachment motion submitted by the Assembly, which could take up to 180 days.
However, opposition parties as well as the people have urged the court to review the impeachment charges quickly, even calling for selective deliberations to oust the embattled head of state.
The passage of the impeachment motion came after the prosecution identified Park as an accomplice of her confidant Choi in late November, labeling her a criminal suspect.
Choi was charged with extorting tens of millions of dollars from conglomerates to set up two foundations ― Mir and K-Sports ― she controlled, and interfering with state affairs, despite having no official post, under Park's support.
Park's representatives argued that the President did not recognize Choi was taking personal benefits and that the Mir and K-Sports foundations, only a fraction of Park's state affairs, were created in the public's interest, not for personal gain.
They stressed Park had no intention to solicit bribes as she did not ask the conglomerates to provide funds in return for anything.
They also denied Choi's involvement in Park's appointment of public officials.
Regarding the Sewol ferry sinking, they argued it cannot be an appropriate reason to impeach the President just because the rescue operations were not sufficient.
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