S. Korea leader accepts sole blame for 'heartbreaking' scandal

In an emotional address to the nation Friday, South Korea's beleaguered president Park Geun-hye accepted sole blame for a "heartbreaking" scandal that could threaten her presidency.

The furor erupted after local media reported some of her key speeches were informally edited by her friend and former assistant, Choi Soon-sil, who has no government job and is accused of possibly meddling in state affairs.

Choi, 60, was detained Monday and a team of special prosecutors is investigating, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

“I feel a huge responsibility (for the scandal) deep in my heart. It is all my fault and mistake,” Park said in a televised address Friday.

South Korea's president apologizes over speech scandal

Park apologized earlier this week and said Choi helped her prepare for speeches during her campaign to be elected president and the early part of her presidency in 2013.

Park has fired many of her senior aides and is replacing her prime minister. Kim Byong-joon, Park's nominee for premier, has suggested that she can be directly investigated despite her immunity from prosecution.

Choi, who has known Park for 40 years, is the daughter of Park's mentor Choi Tae-min and the former wife of Park's former secretary Chung Yun-hoi.

“I put too much faith in a personal relationship and didn’t look carefully at what was happening,” Park said. “Sad thoughts trouble my sleep at night. I realize that whatever I do, it will be difficult to mend the hearts of the people, and then I feel a sense of shame and ask myself, ‘Is this the reason I became president?’”

Thousands of South Koreans have protested amid media reports that Choi made recommendations on government policy papers, helped choose presidential aides and picked out Park’s wardrobe. Other reports said Choi might have used her presidential connections to push companies to contribute financially to the establishment of non-profit foundations.

“Anyone found by the current investigation to have done something wrong must be held responsible for what they have done, and I am also ready to face any responsibility," Park said.

“If necessary, I’m determined to let prosecutors investigate me and accept an investigation by an independent counsel too.”

Park, South Korea’s first female leader, was sworn in February 2013 and is in the fourth year of a five-year term.

Contributing: The Associated Press