UPDATE - Impeached SKorea leader’s confidante to appear in court

UPDATES THROUGHOUT

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - Choi Soon-sil -- whose name has become a byword for South Korea’s ongoing leadership crisis -- appeared at Seoul Central District Court on Monday afternoon to deny corruption and power abuse charges against her.

Choi had not been seen in public since she infamously lost a designer shoe while being hounded by reporters when answering a summons in October.

Despite being an ordinary citizen, her notoriety has mounted over claims she abused her family ties to President Park Geun-hye for personal gain and even secretly influenced state affairs.

“Eight of the allegations raised by the prosecution are that she colluded with the president,” Choi's lawyer Lee Kyung-jae said according a report by local news agency Yonhap.

“As she did not collude with the president, she cannot be found guilty of the charges made.”

The ongoing scandal has dragged in numerous presidential aides and business leaders, but most notably prompted lawmakers to impeach Park on Dec. 9.

Before Choi formally denied any wrongdoing in court, her attorney announced to reporters that she had “expressed her willingness to sincerely go through with trial proceedings”.

News of her appearance may have surprised some onlookers, particularly as her attendance was not mandatory at this stage -- moreover, she had dodged a recent request to be interrogated at a parliamentary session.

Still, citizens selected via a random draw queued to glimpse Park’s private confidante.

Two former presidential secretaries indicted alongside her did not show up for Monday’s hearing – one of their legal representatives conceded that their client admits to delivering government secrets to Choi, who has been through no election or vetting process to warrant any kind of governing power.

Her second court hearing is set for Dec. 29.

Meanwhile, Park awaits an impeachment ruling by the Constitutional Court, which has up to six months to reach a decision.