Nine judges of South Korea's Constitutional Court during a hearing on whether to confirm the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, at the court in Seoul, yesterday.
Seoul: The impeachment trial of South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye got under way yesterday, with her lawyers arguing there is no evidence to back the corruption allegations that threaten to force her from office.
Parliament voted to impeach Park last month over an influence-peddling scandal that has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets every week demanding her removal.
The National Assembly, which must have its vote upheld by the Constitutional Court, accused Park of a "serious breach of the constitution" during the first full hearing in the impeachment case.
"The court is requested to fire the president so that impaired constitutional order can be restored", said Kwon Seong-Dong, a lawmaker representing the parliament.
"The president has betrayed the trust and mandate from the people", he added.
The Constitutional Court's initial hearing on Tuesday was curtailed after Park failed to attend. It decided to proceed yesterday regardless of whether she was present.
Park's lawyers said there was no proof the president had issued any directive, oral or written, to tell her aides to ensure the National Pension Fund -- the largest shareholder of one of the two Samsung units -- voted for the merger.
They urged the court to overturn the impeachment vote, saying the motion had been based on "likelihood at best" and insisted she be reinstated as president immediately.
"There is no solid evidence to back the impeachment", Park's lawyer Lee Jung-Hwan said.
Park repeatedly denied the corruption allegations in sometimes tearful televised addresses, while apologising for lapses.
At a separate criminal court trial yesterday, Choi also repeated her denial of all charges levelled against her.
"I think I was victimised" by groundless allegations, said Choi.
Her lawyers have denied allegations Choi was involved in peddling influence or extortion.
In a rare meeting with journalists, the president said on Sunday that she had only sought to listen through Choi to ordinary citizens' opinions on her polices and speeches.
She also insisted the donations to the foundations were made voluntarily by companies to help develop the country's culture and sports.
