Former president Park Geun-hye makes appearance at first hearing in corruption trial

박근혜 첫 정식재판…최순실과 나란히 피고인석 선다
We start this afternoon at the Seoul Central District Court...
The first hearing has ended in the trial of former President Park Geun-hye, Korea's first leader to be impeached and removed from office.
This was Park's first public appearance in the 53 days that she's been detained.
In her two preliminary hearings she had stayed at the detention center.
Let's connect to our Lee Ji-won who is standing by at the court.
Ji-won,... what do we have from today's trial?

Devin, former President Park Geun-hye's first hearing in her trial ended about an hour ago, taking some three hours in all.
In today's hearing, the court decided to merge Park's bribery trial with the case of her longtime confidante, Choi Soon-sil,... as their charges largely overlap.
The ousted president faces 18 charges, including receiving or demanding around 53 million U.S. dollars in bribes from conglomerates such as Samsung and Lotte,... while Choi is also charged with receiving bribes.
This alleged collusion is what led to the awkward encounter between Park and Choi as they met in the courtroom for the first time, as well as Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin,... who is accused of handing out bribes.
Park and Choi, however, did not make eye contact.
Park just looked straight ahead,... not even taking the slightest glimpse at her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil when Choi came into the room.

Did Park or Choi say anything of interest in today's hearing?

Park Geun-hye denied all the charges against her,... and tried not to say much. But Choi, after denying her charges,
gave a long speech about how the prosecutors are framing former President Park as a corrupt leader. She added that Park is not the type of a person who could run the country with bribes and that the reason Park urged business leaders to support the Mir and K-Sports Foundation was purely to develop the nation's culture and sports sectors.
These, remember, were the shady organizations under Choi's control allegedly used to funnel money.
Choi also said that her only crime is having made Park stand in the court.
That's all from me. Back to you Devin.


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