South Korea scandal widens as presidential aides held

Former presidential aide Jeong Ho-Seong is escorted by the police following his arrest in Seoul on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Seoul: South Korean prosecutors arrested two ex-top presidential aides yesterday in a snowballing influence-peddling scandal, which has seen thousands of people take to the streets to demand President Park Geun-Hye's resignation.

Park's approval ratings have hit a historic low of five per cent over the scandal involving her friend Choi Soon-Sil, who has been arrested for fraud and stands accused of meddling in state affairs, including government appointments and policy decisions, despite holding no official position.

Ahn Jong-beom, a former senior advisor to Park, was arrested early Sunday on charges of abuse of power and attempted coercion, the Yonhap news agency reported. He is suspected of helping Choi collect millions in donations from conglomerates to two dubious non-profit foundations Choi set up and allegedly used for personal gain.

Ahn, who has been in custody since Wednesday after stepping down late last month said he would "take responsibility" for failing to properly advise the president.

Prosecutors also arrested Jeong Ho-Seong, another ex-presidential aide, over allegations that he leaked classified information.