South Korea seeks warrant for ex-President Park Geun-hye's arrest

March 27 (UPI) -- Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye's removal from office may not mean she will be spending the rest of her days quietly at her private residence in southern Seoul.

On Monday, South Korean prosecutors applied for a warrant for her arrest, the BBC reported.

Authorities in Seoul seek to cross-examine Park for her role in a corruption scandal that has led to charges against her friend Choi Soon-sil, who is believed to have used her relationship with Park to extort tens of millions of dollars from Korea's top conglomerates, including Samsung.

The scandal led to the arrest of Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong.

"The case is very grave as the suspect has demonstrated acts of abuse of power by making companies give money and infringing on the freedom of corporate management by using powerful position and authority as president," prosecutors stated Monday.

Prosecutors are worried Park would destroy evidence if she is not arrested.

She is expected to be summoned to court for a hearing on Thursday.

After the hearing, the judge would determine whether to issue an arrest warrant, Yonhap reported.

The prosecutors' decision drew mixed reactions from South Koreans on Monday.

Activists who led the candlelight vigils since the scandal broke welcomed the decision as "inevitable."

One rally organizer said the warrant application comes "too late" but the issue "should not be controversial," Newsis reported.

Activist Kim Sam-soo of the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice said the prosecutors' decision "reflects the will of the people" and that he hopes "the court also makes a rational decision."

Not all are happy.

Ahn Jae-chul of World Peace Freedom United said he remains loyal to Park and would "not accept" an arrest warrant if it is issued.

"I will stand up to the end," Ahn said.