Choi Soon-sil, the confidante of President Park Geun-hye standing at the center of the ongoing influence-peddling scandal, said on Monday she will not participate in the parliamentary investigation slated for this week.

Choi was originally scheduled to go to the National Assembly on Wednesday for questioning as part of the investigation into allegations that she exerted undue influence on state affairs and conglomerates, despite not holding any official seat in the administration.

Choi handed in an official statement to the parliament to notify it of her absence from the session. The 60-year-old has been formally arrested since early November.

Choi's sister Choi Soon-deuk and niece Chang Si-ho, also said Monday they will not participate in the same parliamentary probe. (Yonhap)