By Korea Herald staff

A group of senior leaders from South Korea’s civil society, political and religious circles Wednesday denounced President Park Geun-hye over the Choi Soon-sil scandal, calling for her to step aside and relinquish her power to a new, neutral Cabinet.

“The scandal critically dented President Park’s leadership and moral integrity and we have come to the point where the legitimacy of her rule is fundamentally questioned,” the group of 22 said in a joint statement.

The statement, read by their representatives at a press conference in Seoul, said that the new Cabinet should be formed by a prime minister who can garner support from across the aisle and the public.

It also urged political parties to come together to address the current paralysis of state affairs for the sake of the country and the people, and not to try to use the situation for their own interest.

Among the 22 are former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and five former National Assembly speakers: Park Gwan-yong, Lim Chae-jung, Chung Ui-hwa, Kim Won-ki and Kim Hyung-oh.

Some of them expressed their opposition to President Park’s selection of a new Prime Minister -- Kim Byong-joon -- earlier in the day.

“What we call for is a nonparty Cabinet that can win the support of both ruling and opposition parties, and the public. Replacing the prime minister and a couple of other ministers isn’t enough,” said Park Nam-soo, head of the United Religions Initiative of Korea and supreme leader of Chondogyo, a native Korean religion.

Voices denouncing President Park are growing across academia, civil society, religion and other parts of society, with the latest poll showing her approval ratings dipping to an unprecedented below 10 percent range.

Civic groups are holding candlelight vigils every evening in Seoul, demanding Park step down and face investigation over allegations that she let her civilian friend meddle in key state affairs.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)