South Korean President's Confidante Appears in Court

The jailed confidante of disgraced South Korean president Park Geun-hye denied on the first day of her trial Dec. 19, that she used her presidential ties to extort money from powerful companies. The hearing was the first public appearance in weeks for the woman at the heart of a scandal that led to Park’s impeachment. Choi Soon-sil, Park’s friend of 40 years, bowed deeply to the three judges before her lawyer denied that Choi conspired with Park and her presidential aide to pressure companies to donate tens of millions of dollars to foundations controlled by Choi last year. Choi’s trial resumes again on Dec. 29.