AKIPRESS.COM - South Korean prosecutors raided the offices of Samsung Electronics on Tuesday as part of a probe over a political scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her friend who is alleged to have exerted improper influence in state affairs, reports Fortune.

A prosecution official said the search is related to the scandal involving the president’s friend, Choi Soon-sil.

South Korea’s news agency reported prosecutors are looking into whether Samsung improperly provided financial assistance to Choi’s daughter.

Park’s presidency has been rocked by the scandal involving Choi, who is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs and wield influence in the sports and cultural communities.

Choi has been charged abuse of power and fraud while a former aide has been charged with abuse of power and extortion after they helped raise 77.4 billion won ($68 million) from dozens of the country’s biggest conglomerates on behalf of two foundations.

Prosecutors have been investigating an allegation that Samsung provided $3.1 million to a company co-owned by Choi and her daughter, who was previously a member of the South Korean national equestrian team.

Prosecutors have already questioned a Samsung executive as part of the probe, according to a prosecution source.

It is reported prosecutors were also raiding the offices of the Korea Equestrian Federation and the Korea Horse Affairs Association.

Meanwhile, Park will visit parliament on Tuesday and meet the speaker to discuss how to resolve the political crisis.

Park also hopes to meet the leaders of opposition parties.

Opposition leaders have demanded Park withdraw her nominee for prime minister and agree to a candidate acceptable to them as a precondition to meeting her to discuss a solution to the crisis that has thrown her government into limbo.

Park has publicly apologized twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to 5% according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988.

No South Korean president has failed to finish their five-year term, but Park has faced growing pressure from the public and some hardline political opponents to quit. The main opposition parties have not raised the idea of launching impeachment proceedings.