The approval rating for South Korean President Park Geun-hye has slumped to an all-time low of 17.5%. She is embroiled in a deepening crisis over an old friend who enjoyed inappropriate influence. The poll by Realmeter also suggests 42% of people agree Park should face impeachment or step down.

Park has apologized for giving her friend Choi Soon-sil access to draft speeches in the early days of her presidency. Choi is not known to have held any government post. She admitted to making changes to those speeches, but denied benefiting from government funds.

South Korean media report Choi might have also had a hand in the country's foreign affairs. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has decided to investigate the allegations.