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South Korean opposition parties agree on motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye

By Daniel Uria
South Korea's opposition parties introduced a motion to impeach President Park Geun Hye following a corruption scandal involving her friend and confidante Choi Sun-sil. The motion was proposed by 171 of the country's 300 lawmakers, with two-thirds of the vote required for it to bee successful. Protesters took to the streets of Seoul again after Park offered to resign in a perceived attempt to delay the vote.
 Pool Photo by Andrew Harrer/Pool
South Korea's opposition parties introduced a motion to impeach President Park Geun Hye following a corruption scandal involving her friend and confidante Choi Sun-sil. The motion was proposed by 171 of the country's 300 lawmakers, with two-thirds of the vote required for it to bee successful. Protesters took to the streets of Seoul again after Park offered to resign in a perceived attempt to delay the vote. Pool Photo by Andrew Harrer/Pool | License Photo

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- South Korea's three opposition parties signed a joint motion to hold a vote to impeach President Park Geun-hye.

The motion was signed by 171 members of Korea's three opposition parties, seeking to have Park impeached after she was accused of abusing her power by allowing her friend and confidante Choi Sun-sil to extort money and influence government decisions.

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"We hereby propose impeachment proceedings to protect the constitution and restore the impaired constitutional order by removing President Park Geun-hye from office," the motion stated.

At least 200 of the 300 lawmakers must approve the motion to impeach Park, meaning 28 of Park's own Saenuri Party must vote in favor of her impeachment on Dec. 9 for the motion to be successful.

Park offered to resign if South Korea's parliament deemed it necessary in a move some believe was simply a tactic to delay her potential impeachment.

Members of the ruling Saenuri Party have also encouraged her to step down voluntarily in April and allow for an early presidential election in June, according to Voice of America.

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Organizers estimated 1.7 million took to the streets of Seoul for the sixth consecutive week to continue to call for Park's impeachment and express outrage at her perceived attempt to delay the vote, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Police estimated the number was 320,000, the largest number of protesters recorded by authorities so far.

Protesters once again marched toward the presidential office holding candles and staged a "blackout" by extinguishing their lights.

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