The scandal dealt a blow to Ms. Park just as her office has been billing her Washington trip as an impeccable success. She held a summit meeting with President Barack Obama on Tuesday and spoke before the U.S. Congress the following day.
But while she was on her way back to South Korea on Friday, a political firestorm was brewing at home.
Ms. Park and her office “should deeply reflect on their appointment of the wrong personnel and apologize to the people,” said Kim Kwan-young, a spokesman at the main opposition Democratic Party, calling for a thorough investigation of the case that he said “caused national shame.”