text: Image copyright AFP Image caption South Koreans have taken to the streets in mass demonstrations against Ms Park 
   
   The scandal in South Korea involving President Park Geun-hye has taken an unexpected twist with news that Viagra has been found in her offices. 
   
   Authorities found the pills - usually used to treat erectile dysfunction - while investigating corruption allegations against Ms Park. 
   
   The government says the Viagra was bought to combat altitude sickness. 
   
   The South Korean leader is accused of allowing her friend, Choi Soon-sil, to influence her decisions. 
   
   The presidential office confirmed it bought 364 Viagra and similar generic pills to deal with altitude sickness on official trips to East Africa, although the pills were never used. 
   
   The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul, says the discovery of Viagra will add an air of remoteness to the president. Many Koreans believe Ms Park is living in a "different world" which will exacerbate political pressure on her to resign. 
   
   Some early rumours among Koreans alleged Ms Park could have been involved with cultish rituals with her friend Ms Choi. 
   
   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. 
   
   You might also like: 
   
   How will India destroy 20 billion banknotes? 
   
   Ellen DeGeneres lauded by Obama for gay rights influence 
   
   Amazing white rainbow snapped over Scottish moor 
   
   Viagra and altitude sickness? 
   
   Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Viagra is Pfizer's brand name for sildenafil 
   
   The discovery of Viagra grew out of the drug UK92480, a new treatment for angina, a heart condition that constricts the vessels that supply the heart with blood. 
   
   It failed in treating angina, but during drug trials many volunteers reported an unusual side effect - lots of erections. Scientists ran more tests and discovered its effectiveness at treating erectile dysfunction. 
   
   Because of biological similarities between the lungs and penis, scientists also discovered it could help protect against pulmonary hypertension, common in climbers. 
   
   At high altitudes decreased levels of oxygen can trigger high blood pressure in the lungs, which in extreme circumstance can be fatal. 
   
   Viagra reduces high blood pressure and improves the transport of oxygen in the blood. 
   
   Meanwhile, South Korean authorities have raided the offices of Samsung and the national pension fund as part of a corruption investigation linked to the president. 
   
   They are probing whether Ms Park pressured the fund to support a Samsung merger, said the Yonhap news agency. 
   
   Image copyright Reuters Image caption Investigators seized evidence at the National Pension Service 
   
   Samsung's offices had already been raided over related allegations. 
   
   Wednesday's raid had to do with a merger last year between the electronics giant's construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate firm, Cheil Industries. 
   
   For weeks, tens of thousands of protesters have gathered in Seoul to demand Ms Park's resignation - a call she has resisted. ||||| Park Geun-hye’s aides say branded and generic versions were purchased to treat altitude sickness for staff on trips to elevated capitals in Africa 
   
   South Korea President Park Geun-hye’s office has confirmed revelations by an opposition lawmaker that it purchased about 360 erectile dysfunction Viagra pills and the generic version of the drug in December. 
   
   
   
   While the report has created a frenzy on the internet, Park’s office said the pills were bought to potentially treat altitude sickness for presidential aides and employees on Park’s May trips to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, whose capitals are thousands of metres above sea level. 
   
   Turmoil in east Asia: sensitive moment for region unsettled by Trump Read more 
   
   The pills were not used, said Jung Youn-kuk, spokesman of the presidential Blue House. South Korean doctors sometimes prescribe Viagra-style drugs to climbers because they are believed to be effective in preventing altitude sickness. 
   
   The Viagra revelation comes as Park grapples with a massive political scandal. 
   
   The president is now bracing for an impeachment push by opposition parties and some members of her own Saenuri party amid allegations that she let a secretive confidante manipulate government affairs and amass an illicit fortune, a scandal critics say undermines the country’s democracy. 
   
   On Wednesday South Korean prosecutors raided offices of the Samsung Group and the state pension fund as the electronics giant was dragged further into the scandal engulfing Park. 
   
   The raid comes as Samsung faces allegations it bribed Park’s confidant Choi Soon-Sil to win state approval for a controversial merger it sought in 2015. 
   
   Prosecutors visited the group’s Future Strategy Office, which oversees key business decisions, the Yonhap news agency reported. 
   
   A Samsung spokesman confirmed the visit by prosecutors but declined to elaborate. 
   
   On Sunday prosecutors said they believed Park was collusively involved in the criminal activities of Choi and two presidential aides who allegedly bullied companies into giving tens of millions of dollars to foundations and businesses Choi controlled, and that Choi was allowed to interfere with state affairs. 
   
   Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report
target: – If your political scandal lasts longer than four hours, maybe get rid of all that Viagra you've got stashed in the presidential office. The BBC reports authorities investigating South Korean president Park Geun-hye for corruption discovered more than 300 Viagra pills in her office. A spokesperson for Park tells Reuters the 364 pills—a combination of Viagra and a generic knockoff—were purchased last December to treat aides and employees for altitude sickness during Park's trip to Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya in May but never used. The Guardian notes that all three countries have capitals thousands of feet above sea level. Viagra can reportedly be effective against altitude sickness because it reduces blood pressure and improves oxygen transportation in the blood. But that didn't stop the discovery from causing a stir in South Korea, where Park is facing potential impeachment efforts. Park is accused of letting a friend have influence over government decisions and pressuring businesses to give money to foundations that support her policies. There are also rumors that Park was involved in "cultish rituals." Thousands have been protesting and calling for her to step down in recent weeks. A BBC reporter says the discovery of the Viagra will "add an air of remoteness" to Park, who many already see as living in a "different world."