Choi Soon-sil, the close confidante of President Park Geun-hye who was allegedly consulted on confidential state affairs, voluntarily returned to South Korea.

“Choi arrived (in Incheon) at 7:30 a.m. from London’s Heathrow Airport via a British Airways flight,” prosecution officials said Sunday morning.

The 60-year-old confidante of the president has been under fire since Oct. 24, after local broadcaster JTBC obtained evidence that she had meddled in state affairs. According to the evidence her influence included meddling in the appointment of top personnel officials and revising presidential speeches.

She is also suspected of raising some 80 billion won ($70 million) from conglomerates through two government-backed foundations -- the Mir and the K-Sports foundations.

Lee Kyung-jae, the legal representative of Choi , held a press conference this morning at around 9:30 a.m. Choi did not make an appearance.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)