South Korean President Park Geun-hye will not hesitate to appoint an independent counsel to probe a scandal involving her and her close associates once candidates are recommended by opposition parties, her spokesman said Tuesday.

Opposition parties are set to propose two candidates on the day, and Park is supposed to name one within three days.

"We believe there's no reason to delay the appointment once the candidates are proposed," said Jung Youn-kuk, presidential spokesman. "Although we cannot say when, the process will be completed promptly."

The National Assembly passed a bill on a special investigation of Park on Nov. 17. Prosecutors named the president as an accomplice in the scandal centering on her confidante Choi Soon-sil, accused of meddling in state affairs and pressuring businesses to donate to nonprofit organizations she controlled.

Once the independent probe begins, Park is expected to hire more lawyers to defend herself, pundits said.

The president faces growing pressure to step down, even from her closest allies in the ruling Saenuri Party, who proposed an "honorable resignation" on Monday.

Regarding the request made by several senior pro-Park lawmakers, Jung said she is "carefully listening to various opinions."

The presidential office has ruled out the possibility of Park's resignation, which would deprive her of the presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. 

The spokesman declined to comment on the presidential office's future course of action if parliament passes the impeachment motion.

Opposition parties are working to put the motion up for vote as early as Friday. Its passage requires approval from two-thirds of the 300-seat National Assembly, which means at least 28 Saenuri lawmakers would need to support it. (Yonhap)