Former South Korean President Park indicted for bribery and abuse of power

Ben Westcott
By Ben Westcott, CNN
Updated 6:52 AM EDT, Mon April 17, 2017
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 29: South Korean President Park Geun-Hye makes a speech during an address to the nation, at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on November 29, 2016. South Korea's scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye said Tuesday she was willing to stand down early and would let parliament decide on her fate. (Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun-Pool/Getty Images)
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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DECEMBER 09: In this handout photo released by the South Korean Presidential Blue House, South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye attends the emergency cabinet meeting at the presidential office on December 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea. The South Korean National Assembly voted for an impeachment motion at its plenary session, which will set up the rare impeachment trial for President Park over the accusation of corruption involving Park and her long time confidante. (Photo by South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images)
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Story highlights

Park faces a wide range of charges, including coercion and leaking confidential information

There will be an election to choose a new South Korean president on May 9

(CNN) —  

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been officially indicted on a number of charges including abuse of power, prosecutors confirmed Monday.

A historic leader from a South Korean political dynasty, Park was forced from office in March amid a massive corruption scandal that engulfed not just her government but major international companies such as Samsung and Lotte Group.

Now the disgraced former leader will be made to defend allegations of coercion, attempted coercion, receiving and demanding bribes, and leaking confidential information.

The Constitutional Court upheld Park’s impeachment by South Korea’s National Assembly on March 10, removing the president from office and leaving her open to prosecution.

Park was arrested by South Korean authorities on March 30.

Judge Kang Bu-young, who issued the warrant for the former leader’s arrest, told reporters by text message in late March that “major crimes have been ascertained.”

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye leaves an event in Seoul, South Korea, on March 1, 2016. A year later, the country's Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach her over allegations of corruption and cronyism. Lawmakers and judges agreed that she abused her authority in helping a friend raise donations from companies.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Ahn Young-joon/AP
Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye leaves an event in Seoul, South Korea, on March 1, 2016. A year later, the country's Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach her over allegations of corruption and cronyism. Lawmakers and judges agreed that she abused her authority in helping a friend raise donations from companies.
In this undated photo, Park is seen at back right with her late father, former South Korean President Park Chung-hee; her mother, Yook Young-soo; her sister, Park Geun-young; and her brother, Park Ji-man. Her father seized power in a military coup in 1961. He rewrote the constitution to cement his grip on power and brutally cracked down on dissent and opposition, leading many to call him a dictator.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: YONHAP FILE/EPA
In this undated photo, Park is seen at back right with her late father, former South Korean President Park Chung-hee; her mother, Yook Young-soo; her sister, Park Geun-young; and her brother, Park Ji-man. Her father seized power in a military coup in 1961. He rewrote the constitution to cement his grip on power and brutally cracked down on dissent and opposition, leading many to call him a dictator.
Park Geun-hye, left, stands next to US President Jimmy Carter during Carter's state visit to Seoul in 1979. After Park's mother was killed in a botched assassination attempt on her father in 1974, Park became regarded as South Korea's first lady.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Saenuri Party
Park Geun-hye, left, stands next to US President Jimmy Carter during Carter's state visit to Seoul in 1979. After Park's mother was killed in a botched assassination attempt on her father in 1974, Park became regarded as South Korea's first lady.
Park casts a ballot with her father, who was assassinated by his own security chief in 1979. After the loss of her father, Park withdrew from the public sphere, living what she described as "a very normal life."
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Yonhap via AP
Park casts a ballot with her father, who was assassinated by his own security chief in 1979. After the loss of her father, Park withdrew from the public sphere, living what she described as "a very normal life."
Park speaks during an interview in May 1999. She said she was persuaded to rejoin politics after seeing the effects of the Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s. She served as a lawmaker in the National Assembly from 1998 to 2012.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: The Asahi Shimbun/via Getty Images
Park speaks during an interview in May 1999. She said she was persuaded to rejoin politics after seeing the effects of the Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s. She served as a lawmaker in the National Assembly from 1998 to 2012.
Park burns incense at the tomb of her father in August 2012, soon after she was named the presidential candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: AP Photo/Newsis
Park burns incense at the tomb of her father in August 2012, soon after she was named the presidential candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party.
Park waves to her supporters in November 2012 after making her first official stump speech as a presidential candidate.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Kyodo News via Getty Images
Park waves to her supporters in November 2012 after making her first official stump speech as a presidential candidate.
Park greets people in downtown Seoul during the launch of her presidential campaign in November 2012.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Park greets people in downtown Seoul during the launch of her presidential campaign in November 2012.
In December 2012, Park participates in a televised presidential debate with United Progressive Party candidate Lee Jung-hee and Democratic United Party candidate Moon Jae-in.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
In December 2012, Park participates in a televised presidential debate with United Progressive Party candidate Lee Jung-hee and Democratic United Party candidate Moon Jae-in.
Park speaks to the media in December 2012 after becoming president-elect.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Park speaks to the media in December 2012 after becoming president-elect.
Park was sworn in as South Korea's first female president in February 2013.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Park Jin-Hee-Pool/Getty Images
Park was sworn in as South Korea's first female president in February 2013.
Park arrives for a dinner at the presidential Blue House following her inauguration in 2013.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Park arrives for a dinner at the presidential Blue House following her inauguration in 2013.
Park shakes hands with US President Barack Obama during a White House news conference in May 2013.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Park shakes hands with US President Barack Obama during a White House news conference in May 2013.
Park talks with families of missing passengers after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014. The passenger ferry sank a day earlier, killing 304 people. Most of those aboard were high school students on a field trip to Jeju island, off South Korea's southern coast.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Park talks with families of missing passengers after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014. The passenger ferry sank a day earlier, killing 304 people. Most of those aboard were high school students on a field trip to Jeju island, off South Korea's southern coast.
Park sheds tears as she addresses the nation on the Sewol ferry disaster in May 2014. Park was criticized for her handling of the tragedy as it became apparent during the investigation that the ferry's sinking was a man-made disaster.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Handout/South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images
Park sheds tears as she addresses the nation on the Sewol ferry disaster in May 2014. Park was criticized for her handling of the tragedy as it became apparent during the investigation that the ferry's sinking was a man-made disaster.
After the corruption allegations surfaced, demonstrators carry cutouts of Park during a December 2016 rally calling for her to step down.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Ahn Young-joon/AP
After the corruption allegations surfaced, demonstrators carry cutouts of Park during a December 2016 rally calling for her to step down.
Park attends an emergency cabinet meeting in December after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly for an impeachment motion.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Handout/South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images
Park attends an emergency cabinet meeting in December after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly for an impeachment motion.
Park speaks to a select group of reporters at the Blue House in January. Park rejected accusations of corruption and refused to step down.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: HANDOUT/South Korean Presidential House via AP
Park speaks to a select group of reporters at the Blue House in January. Park rejected accusations of corruption and refused to step down.
A Park supporter holds up her portrait during a March rally opposing her impeachment.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: Ahn Young-joon/AP
A Park supporter holds up her portrait during a March rally opposing her impeachment.
Anti-Park protesters carry an effigy of the ousted president as they march toward the Blue House in March. Stripped of her immunity, Park is now liable to prosecution and must vacate the Blue House.
Photos: The political career of Park Geun-hye
PHOTO: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Anti-Park protesters carry an effigy of the ousted president as they march toward the Blue House in March. Stripped of her immunity, Park is now liable to prosecution and must vacate the Blue House.

Fall from power