South Korean investigators summon Park's jailed friend

Seoul: A South Korean special prosecutor on Saturday summoned the jailed friend of impeached President Park Geun-hye who allegedly exploited her connections with Park to extort money and favours from the country's largest companies and manipulate government affairs.

In handcuffs, white prison clothes and a surgical mask, Choi Soon-sil was escorted into a southern Seoul office where investigators have been widening their inquiry into the scandal.

Millions of protesters have taken to the streets before the country's opposition-controlled parliament on December 9 voted to impeach Park.

Lee Kyu Chul, an official from the investigation team led by special prosecutor Park Young-soo, said without elaborating that Choi would be "broadly" questioned on charges that were included in indictments and also on newer allegations. Choi can be summoned several more times in the coming weeks, he said.

Lee also said the team was planning to question Park, but did not say when that might happen.

"We can investigate (the president) depending on how things develop and we are preparing for it in our own way," Lee told reporters.

Choi's summoning came before a massive crowd gathered near the presidential palace to call for Park's permanent removal, extending the country's largest-ever protest movement to Christmas Eve.

Carrying signs and candles and wearing Santa hats, the protesters marched toward the presidential residence and offices, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn's office and the Constitutional Court.

Thousands of Park's conservative supporters rallied in nearby streets, waving the national flag and shouting for Park's powers to be restored.

The Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether Park should permanently step down or be reinstated. Her presidential powers are suspended until then, with the prime minister serving as the government caretaker.

State prosecutors have accused Park of colluding with Choi as she allegedly amassed an illicit fortune and held extraordinary sway over government decisions, such as choosing Cabinet ministers.

They have now handed over their investigation to the special prosecutor, whose team earlier on Saturday summoned former Vice Sports Minister Kim Chong.

Kim is suspected of helping Choi wrest money and favors from Samsung, the country's largest business group. He also allegedly swung lucrative business deals to sports organisations that Choi controlled and influenced the ministry's decision to financially support a winter sports group run by Choi's niece, who has also been arrested.