South Korea\u2019s impeached President Park Geun-hye on Sunday repeated denials of involvement in a snowballing corruption scandal and said rumours have been \u201cgetting out of hand\u201d, Yonhap news agency reported. \u201cRumours, stories and broadcasts have been distorted and false information has been getting out of hand,\u201d she was quoted as telling reporters at the presidential Blue House. Parliament voted on December 9 to impeach Park over the scandal. She is accused of colluding with close friend Choi Soon-sil to strong-arm big companies into handing over tens of millions of dollars to dubious foundations which Choi controlled. Park denied the accusations, saying she was \u201ctotally framed,\u201d according to Yonhap. \u201cThe matter is under investigation, so I can\u2019t make detailed explanations that might put both sides in trouble, but what I can assure you is that I have never conspired with anyone or did anything to give favours to someone, not even by a bit,\u201d Yonhap quoted Park as saying. Choi is now on trial for coercion and abuse of power, largely related to the corporate funding of the two foundations which she allegedly plundered. The impeachment case is being considered by the constitutional court \u2013 which has up to six months to reach a ruling \u2013 but hundreds of thousands of South Koreans have joined weekly protests calling for Park\u2019s immediate departure from office. If the impeachment is confirmed, a presidential election will have to be held within 60 days. Park also allegedly ordered aides to leak state documents to Choi, who has no official title or security clearance, and allowed her to meddle in state affairs including the appointment of top officials. Since the scandal came to light, Park had apologised several times for her conduct in tearful televised addresses. She admitted seeking advice from Choi on some presidential speeches and PR material at the beginning of her term in 2013. Media reports have depicted Choi as having a \u201cRasputin-like\u201d influence over Park, saying she controlled everything from the president\u2019s wardrobe to crucial decisions on state affairs \u2013 allegations denied by Park. \u201cI have known Choi for decades. But that doesn\u2019t mean that she has access to everything,\u201d Yonhap quoted Park as saying, citing her \u201cduties as president\u201d. Park\u2019s rare meeting with reporters was her first public appearance since she was suspended from executive duties. The country has a temporary leader, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. A former health ministry official was arrested on Saturday over suspicions that he forced the National Pension Service to support a merger between two Samsung affiliates last year. The deal shaved the fund\u2019s stake in one of the companies by an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars, but allowed Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong to promote a father-to-son succession of leadership and increase the group\u2019s corporate wealth. Investigators are trying to confirm whether Park instructed government officials to help the merger go through and then had them press Samsung to provide Choi money and favours. The constitutional court\u2019s first hearing on the impeachment is scheduled for Tuesday.<\/p>\n