SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Tuesday she will withdraw her nominee for prime minister if parliament recommends a candidate and is willing to let the new premier control the cabinet, seeking to defuse a crisis rocking her presidency.

South Korean President Prak Geun-hye (in red) walks past members of the minor opposition Justice Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, November 8, 2016. Yonhap/Bae Jae-man/via REUTERS

Park’s comments at a meeting with the speaker of parliament indicated she was willing to relinquish some control over state affairs - a key demand by opposition parties to resolve the scandal stemming from allegations that her friend improperly wielded influence using her ties to the president.

“If parliament recommends a good person with an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, I will appoint that person as prime minister and allow him to essentially take control over the cabinet,” Park told the speaker, Chung Sye-kyun.

The position of prime minister is usually a figurehead in South Korea, with most power concentrated in the presidential office.

Park has been severely bruised by the scandal involving her friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs and wield influence in the sports and cultural communities.

Choi has been charged with abuse of power and fraud while a former aide has been charged with abuse of power and extortion after they helped raise 77.4 billion won ($68 million) from dozens of the country’s biggest conglomerates on behalf of two foundations.

Park nominated Kim Byong-joon, a former cabinet minister under a liberal ex-president, as premier last week but the move, which requires a parliamentary approval, drew anger from the opposition as a bid to divert attention from the crisis and yet another example of her heavy-handed approach.

Park’s visit to parliament was brief and she did not meet the leaders of opposition parties despite news reports that said she had hoped to do so.

Instead she was met with some opposition members inside the building who held signs that said she should relinquish authority and even some that called on her to step down.

Park has publicly apologized twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to 5 percent according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988.

No South Korean president has failed to finish their five-year term, but Park has faced growing pressure from the public and some hardline political opponents to quit. Park’s term is due to end in early 2018.

SAMSUNG RAIDED

South Korean prosecutors raided the offices of Samsung Electronics earlier on Tuesday as part of a probe over the scandal involving Choi, a prosecution official told Reuters but declined to comment further.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported prosecutors are looking into whether Samsung improperly provided financial assistance to Choi’s daughter.

Samsung Electronics, reeling from a $5.4 billion profit hit after it was forced to discontinue its fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, said prosecutors visited its office but declined to comment further.

Prosecutors have been investigating an allegation that Samsung provided 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by Choi and her daughter, who was previously a member of the South Korean national equestrian team, Yonhap reported.

Park Sang-jin, a Samsung Electronics president for corporate relations, is currently head of Korea Equestrian Federation. Yonhap said his office was part of the prosecutor’s raid Tuesday morning. Park Sang-jin could not be reached for comment.

Prosecutors have already questioned a Samsung executive as part of the probe, according to a prosecution source.

Slideshow (4 Images)

Yonhap reported prosecutors were also raiding the offices of the Korea Equestrian Federation and the Korea Horse Affairs Association.

The Korea Equestrian Federation declined to comment on Yonhap report, and the Korea Horse Affairs Association did not immediately comment.</s>Image copyright AFP

South Korean prosecutors have raided the offices of Samsung Electronics as part of a probe into the political scandal around President Park Geun-hye.

The prosecutors are investigating allegations that Samsung gave money to the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of the president.

Ms Choi is accused of using their friendship to interfere in politics and solicit business donations.

Samsung confirmed the raids to the BBC saying they had "no further comment".

President Park has apologised for her ties to Ms Choi but faces mounting calls to resign.

In this latest twist of the scandal that's been rocking South Korea for weeks, prosecutors are investigating allegations that Samsung might have provided €2.8m euros ($3.1m, £2.5m) to a company co-owned by Ms Choi and her daughter, to bankroll the daughter's equestrian training in Germany.

Prosecutors are also reported to have raided the offices of the Korea Equestrian Federation and the Korea Horse Affairs Association.

Ms Choi was arrested on 3 November and charged with fraud and abuse of power.

Image copyright AFP/getty Image caption Ms Choi, a long-time friend of Ms Park's, is the daughter of Choi Tae-min, a shadowy quasi-religious leader

Over the past days, tens of thousands of South Koreans have protested in the capital, Seoul, to demand the resignation of President Park over the corruption row.

Ms Choi, a long-time friend of Ms Park's, is the daughter of Choi Tae-min, a shadowy quasi-religious leader who was closely linked to Ms Park's father, then-president Park Chung-hee.

She is alleged to have pushed businesses to donate millions of dollars to foundations she controlled, helped choose presidential aides, and even picked the president's clothes.

Ms Park has since apologised on TV for allowing her long-standing friend inappropriate access to government policy-making. The president admitted she had let Ms Choi edit her speeches.

President Park has already replaced her prime minster, reshuffled her cabinet and dismissed several aides, but there are growing calls for her resignation or impeachment.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Ms Park said she had "put too much faith" in her friendship with Ms Choi

The scandal has left Ms Park with an approval rating of just 5%.

Choo Mi-ae, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, said she did not believe the apology was genuine and called on her to accept a new prime minister recommended by parliament.

Ms Park became her country's first female president when she was elected in a close-run contest in December 2012.</s>The prosecutors' search is related to whether Samsung may have improperly provided financial assistance to a daughter of the president's friend, Choi Soon-sil, Yonhap reported.

Officials at Samsung Electronics, Samsung Group and the prosecutors' office could not be immediately reached for confirmation or comments.

Prosecutors have been investigating an allegation that Samsung provided 2.8 million euros to a company co-owned by Choi and her daughter, who was previously a member of the South Korean national equestrian team.

Park's presidency has been rocked by the scandal involving Choi who is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs and wield influence in the sports and cultural communities.

Park has publicly apologized twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to 5 percent according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988.</s>A prosecution official told Reuters the search is related to the scandal involving the president's friend, Choi Soon-sil, but declined to comment further.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported prosecutors are looking into whether Samsung improperly provided financial assistance to Choi's daughter.

Samsung Electronics, reeling from a $5.4 billion profit hit after it was forced to discontinue its fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, said prosecutors visited its office but declined to comment further.

Park's presidency has been rocked by the scandal involving Choi, who is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs and wield influence in the sports and cultural communities.

Choi has been charged abuse of power and fraud while a former aide has been charged with abuse of power and extortion after they helped raise 77.4 billion won ($68 million) from dozens of the country's biggest conglomerates on behalf of two foundations.

Prosecutors have been investigating an allegation that Samsung provided 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by Choi and her daughter, who was previously a member of the South Korean national equestrian team, Yonhap reported.

Park Sang-jin, a Samsung Electronics president for corporate relations, is currently head of Korea Equestrian Federation. Yonhap said his office was part of the prosecutor's raid Tuesday morning. Park Sang-jin could not immediately be reached for comment.

Prosecutors have already questioned a Samsung executive as part of the probe, according to a prosecution source.

Yonhap reported prosecutors were also raiding the offices of the Korea Equestrian Federation and the Korea Horse Affairs Association.

The Korea Equestrian Federation declined to comment on Yonhap report, and the Korea Horse Affairs Association did not immediately comment.

Park will visit parliament on Tuesday and meet the speaker to discuss how to resolve the political crisis, an official at her office told Reuters.

Park also hopes to meet the leaders of opposition parties, Yonhap quoted her spokesman as telling reporters.

Opposition leaders have demanded Park withdraw her nominee for prime minister and agree to a candidate acceptable to them as a precondition to meeting her to discuss a solution to the crisis that has thrown her government into limbo.

Park has publicly apologized twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to 5 percent according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988.

No South Korean president has failed to finish their five-year term, but Park has faced growing pressure from the public and some hardline political opponents to quit. Park's term is due to end in early 2018 and the main opposition parties have not raised the idea of launching impeachment proceedings.</s>South Korean prosecutors raided the offices of Samsung Electronics Co. early Tuesday morning amid allegations that the South Korean technology company gave money to Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of President Park Geun-hye, who has been accused of exerting influence over government affairs.

 South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported prosecutors are looking into whether Samsung improperly provided financial assistance to Choi's daughter.

 Samsung Electronics, reeling from a $5.4 billion profit hit after it was forced to discontinue its fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, said prosecutors visited its office but declined to comment further.

 Prosecutors have been investigating an allegation that Samsung provided 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by Choi and her daughter, who was previously a member of the South Korean national equestrian team, Yonhap reported.

 Park Sang-jin, a Samsung Electronics president for corporate relations, is currently head of Korea Equestrian Federation. Yonhap said his office was part of the prosecutor's raid Tuesday morning. Park Sang-jin could not be reached for comment.

 Prosecutors have already questioned a Samsung executive as part of the probe, according to a prosecution source.

 Yonhap reported prosecutors were also raiding the offices of the Korea Equestrian Federation and the Korea Horse Affairs Association.

 The Korea Equestrian Federation declined to comment on the report, and the Korea Horse Affairs Association did not immediately comment; according to agencies.

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 Source: The Financial Express</s>SEOUL -- South Korean prosecutors have raided the Seoul office of Samsung Electronics in connection with a snowballing influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye's longtime confidante.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office says Tuesday's raid was part of investigation into the scandal centering on how much Park's friend Choi Soon-sil meddled in state affairs though she doesn't have any government job.

The prosecutors' office gave no further details. Yonhap news agency says the raid was related to a suspicion that Samsung gave Choi's daughter illicit financial help.

Park visited National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun on Monday to discuss how to defuse a political crisis triggered by the scandal. The results of their meeting weren't immediately known.

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Seoul on Saturday, demanding Park's removal from office.</s>Samsung is dealing with yet another explosive problem.

Prosecutors raided the company's headquarters in Seoul on Tuesday in connection with an abuse-of-power scandal that's engulfing the South Korean government.

The prosecutor's office said it is investigating Samsung (SSNLF) over possible links to the case involving President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante Choi Soon-sil. Park is accused of letting Choi, who does not hold an official government post, view confidential documents and presidential speeches.

Related: South Korea presidential scandal: What you need to know

Local media and opposition parties have accused Choi of using her relationship with Park to accumulate millions of dollars in donations to her foundations. Samsung, the country's biggest company, is alleged to have been among the contributors.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that prosecutors are looking into whether Samsung illegally funneled more than $3 million to a company owned by Choi, allegedly to fund her daughter's equestrian training in Germany.

Samsung and the prosecutor's office declined to comment on the allegations reported by Yonhap.

The growing political firestorm has engulfed Park's administration, spurring tens of thousands of protesters to take to the streets demanding her resignation.

Two of the president's former aides have been arrested. And prosecutors issued a warrant for Choi last week on charges of abuse of power and attempted fraud.

Park apologized twice for the scandal, maintaining she wasn't being controlled by anyone, and sacked her prime minister last week.

Related: Note 7 crisis wipes out almost all of Samsung's mobile profits

Meanwhile, Samsung is still reeling from the embarrassing fiasco involving its fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.

The tech giant killed off the Note 7 last month after repeated reports of the device bursting into flames. That crisis has already wiped out more than $5 billion in profit for the company.

In South Korea, Samsung is more than just a smartphone manufacturer. The conglomerate accounts for a big chunk of the country's economy, reaching into many parts of South Koreans' lives. There are Samsung hospitals, amusement parks, apartment complexes and even a dog adoption center.

-- Paula Hancocks and Jungeun Kim contributed to this report.</s>A South Korean protester carries a placard showing images of South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil, top left, who is at the center of a political scandal, during a rally, calling for Park to step down in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. South Korean prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for the longtime friend of Park on Wednesday over allegations of influence-peddling and other activities that have triggered a huge political scandal that threatens Park's leadership. The placard reads: "Park Geun-hye should step down."

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's president said Tuesday she will allow parliament to choose her prime minister, a major political concession to growing anger as she scrambles to defuse an escalating influence-peddling scandal.

The announcement by Park Geun-hye, who has faced tens of thousands of protesters and an investigation into whether a mysterious confidante manipulated government decisions, could severely curtail her ability to govern in the 15 months she has left in her term.

Park's decision, which came during a meeting Tuesday with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, means that the liberal candidate for prime minister who she nominated last week as a way to settle growing anger will apparently be replaced. But opposition and ruling party lawmakers must first agree on someone else.

The political tug-of-war over the prime minister, who is typically chosen by the president as a No. 2, comes as opposition lawmakers demand that Park distance herself from domestic affairs because of the scandal involving Park's longtime confidante, Choi Soon-sil, who has no official government role.

Park giving up the presidential prerogative to choose a prime minister will further weaken her politically. She already faces terrible approval ratings and calls from the public to step down.

Earlier Tuesday, South Korean prosecutors raided the Seoul office of Samsung Electronics, the nation's largest and most valuable company, in connection with the scandal.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office linked the Samsung raid to an investigation into the scandal but provided no other details. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said investigators were following a suspicion that Samsung gave Choi's daughter illicit financial help.

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Seoul over the weekend, demanding Park's removal from office.

Nam Jeong-su, spokesman of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more militant of South Korea's two large umbrella union groups, said he expects 150,000 unionists, plus supporters, to gather Saturday and march to the presidential Blue House.</s>SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday raided Samsung Electronics’ headquarters as part of a probe into a damaging political scandal involving President Park Geun-Hye and her close personal friend.

“We’re searching Samsung Electronics offices,” a spokesman for the prosecutors’ office told AFP. He declined to provide any further details.

Media reports have suggested that Samsung Electronics may have funnelled as much as 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to Park’s confidante, Choi Soon-Sil, to bankroll her daughter’s equestrian training in Germany.

Choi is currently under arrest on charges of fraud and abuse of power, related to accusations that she leveraged her personal relationship with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung to two non-profit foundations she set up and allegedly used for personal gain.

Samsung has said it will cooperate with any investigations, but declined to comment specifically on Tuesday’s raid.

Choi also faces allegations that she interfered with government affairs, including the nomination of senior officials.

The scandal has triggered nationwide protests calling for Park to step down, and seriously undermined her administration with just over a year left of her presidential term.

In an effort to restore public trust, Park has reshuffled her senior ministers and advisers, and nominated a new prime minister from outside her conservative Saenuri Party.

Park was scheduled to visit the National Assembly on Tuesday morning to discuss the ongoing crisis and the possibility of steering her prime ministerial nomination through parliament.

Opposition parties have complained they were not consulted on the nomination and have refused to meet with Park until it is withdrawn. AFP</s>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Scrambling to defuse a massive scandal, South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday conceded to lawmakers the power to name her new prime minister, a move that could seriously hurt, or even destroy, her ability to govern.

Park, who has faced tens of thousands of protesters and an investigation into whether a mysterious confidante manipulated government decisions, made the overture during a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun.

Just being forced to work with a deputy named by lawmakers — previously a decision left up to the president — would weaken her ability to make basic decisions and influence power in the assembly.

But lawmakers, who must still settle on a prime minister nominee, are demanding even more. Some opposition members want the president to divorce herself from all domestic affairs and focus only on foreign matters, while others want her to stay out of government completely.

These scenarios would destroy Park’s authority as president during her last 15 months in office, forcing her to voluntarily yield large parts, or maybe even all, of her presidential powers to a prime minister named by an opposition-controlled legislature.

Even so, it is still unclear what the splintered assembly will decide on, or when — or what Park will agree to. Park’s ruling party is divided between those who support Park and those who don’t, and the opposition, while having more members than the ruling party, is also split into factions.

The prime minister is largely a ceremonial job, though by law he or she directs executive ministries under the order of the president and has other important rights. There have always been calls to give the office more power to balance the large role the president has.

Last week Park nominated a new prime minister, but he is likely to withdraw from consideration after Park allowed the legislature to pick a new nominee. The current nominee, Kim Byong-joon, told reporters that he would be in charge of social and economic issues and fully exercise the rights as a prime minister if his nomination received parliamentary approval. Park’s office said Tuesday those conditions endorsed by Park would still stand for a new nominee.

The political tug-of-war over the prime minister comes amid a scandal involving Park’s longtime confidante, Choi Soon-sil, who has no official government role. Investigators are looking into whether Choi made major government decisions and used her relationship with Park to force companies to donate money to two foundations controlled by Choi.

Earlier Tuesday, South Korean prosecutors raided the Seoul office of Samsung Electronics, the nation’s largest and most valuable company, in connection with the scandal.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office provided no other details. The Yonhap news agency said investigators suspect Samsung gave Choi’s daughter illicit financial help.

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Seoul over the weekend, demanding Park’s removal from office. Her approval ratings were, at one point, the worst of any president since South Korea gained democracy in the late 1980s.

Nam Jeong-su, spokesman of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more militant of South Korea’s two large umbrella union groups, said he expects 150,000 anti-Park unionists, plus supporters, to gather Saturday and march to the presidential Blue House.

Park’s government, meanwhile, said Tuesday she would skip an Asia-Pacific leaders’ meeting in Peru later this month. The announcement sparked media speculation that the scandal may have forced Park to cancel her plans to attend the summit, though officials said the decision was made before the scandal exploded and is aimed at focusing on how to deal with North Korea’s nuclear program.

Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.
South Korean prosecutors raid the offices of Samsung Electronics as part of a ongoing probe into President Park Geun-hye's controversial association with Choi Soon-sil. Yonhap News Agency reports prosecutors are investigating whether Samsung improperly provided financial assistance to Choi's daughter, Chung Yoo-ra.