Ruling and opposition parties agreed Monday to enact an independent counsel probe into an influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye's close confidante, according to the Yonhap News.
The ruling Saenuri Party, the main opposition Democratic Party and the minor opposition People's Party also agreed to carry out a separate parliamentary probe into the scandal that has rocked the nation over the past several weeks.
The parties plan to pass the two probes during the National Assembly's plenary session slated for Thursday, officials said.
Under the cross-party agreement, an independent counsel will be recommended by the two opposition parties and appointed by the president. The special probe team, which will consist of more than 60 prosecutors and investigators, will have a mandate of up to four months.
The probe team will look into the allegations that Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil has abused her decadeslong ties to the president to meddle in important state affairs and gain financial benefits through illicit activities.
Choi is also suspected of being involved in urging local conglomerates to donate large sums of money to create two nonprofit foundations, which she may have tried to control.
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