South Korea's parliament has passed a law enabling an independent prosecutor to investigate an ongoing corruption scandal threatening the presidency of Park Geun-hye. The opposition-controlled National Assembly also voted for a parliamentary investigation into charges that Park allowed her confidante, Choi Soon-sil, to exert undue influence on state affairs.

It comes following the state prosecutors's statement that part of Park's apology last month was not true. Under the bill, the prosecutor's team will look into allegations that former presidential secretaries leaked confidential documents to Choi and her relatives and associates.