A ruling party lawmaker criticized President Park Geun-hye Wednesday for rejecting a key opposition demand that she fire three key aides accused by critics of exercising excessive influence over the running of state affairs.
Lee Jae-oh, one of the vocal critics of Park, also pressed Park to sack the three aides, saying Park's recent news conference ran counter to public opinion.
The comments came two days after Park said she has no plans to dismiss the three presidential aides whom she described as hard workers. She also said investigations found no wrongdoing by the three aides.
Park has been under intense pressure mostly from the opposition party to fire the three presidential aides who allegedly exerted undue influence in the running of state affairs.
In a news conference Monday, Park asked who would be able to work for her if she were to fire the aides just because they came under suspicion of wrongdoing.
Lee claimed that Park's rejection of the opposition demand gave a boost to the three aides.
Park stood by the three aides, though she offered an apology for causing public concerns over the leak of a presidential document that has sparked a political firestorm over allegations that one of her former aides tried to exert undue influence on state affairs.
The apology on Monday came a week after prosecutors announced a preliminary conclusion that a senior police officer fabricated a presidential document. (Yonhap)
