SEOUL, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Choi Soon-sil, the woman at the center of South Korea's political crisis involving impeached President Park Geun-hye, denied allegations of corruption during her first court appearance on Monday.
Choi was a close confidante of Park. She is accused of using her relationship with the impeached president to pressure companies into donating about $66.2 million to two foundations -- from which she would later siphon off money for personal use.