SOUTH Korea’s justice minister has fallen on his sword in a bid to save scandal-ridden President Park Geun Hye from impeachment.

Ms Park accepted Kim Hyun Woong’s resignation yesterday, but rejected that of Civil Affairs Secretary Choi Jai Kyeong.

Both men offered to quit last week to shield Ms Park from the scandal over her confidante Choi Soon Sil, the daughter of a cult leader, who misused her connection to the president to solicit some £55 million in donations.

Huge protests calling for Ms Park’s exit have filled central Seoul for five weekends in a row, while she refuses to meet with prosecutors to answer questions about the allegations.

So far prosecuters have indicted Ms Choi, two ex-presidential officers and one of Choi’s associates for extortion, leaking confidential documents and other charges.

Opposition MPs have vowed to impeach Ms Park — stripping her of presidential immunity — by early December after she refused to step down voluntarily.

The parliamentary group leaders of three main opposition parties are to meet tomorrow to determine when to submit an impeachment motion, according to the Democratic Party.

And the same day the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions will hold a general strike — accompanied by a global day of solidarity action — against the imprisonment of its leaders who were jailed for organising protests against government policies.

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