South Korea prosecutors detain ex-presidential aide amid scandal

South Korean prosecutors detained a former senior aide of President Park Geun-hye as they widen their investigations into a snowballing political scandal centering on whether the president's longtime friend was pulling government strings from the shadows, officials said on Thursday.

Ahn Jong-beom is the second person detained over the scandal that has plunged Park's approval rating to record lows and triggered mounting calls for her resignation. Earlier this week, prosecutors detained Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, and requested an arrest warrant for her.

South Korean media speculate Choi, who has no government position, secretly made policy recommendations for Park and pushed businesses to donate millions of dollars to two foundations she controlled.