The hearing began at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) and was expected to run until 10 p.m., according to one participant.

Park faces an impeachment vote on coque Wiko Lenny 2 Friday, setting the stage for her to be the first democratically elected South Korean leader to leave office early in disgrace. Huge demonstrations have called for her to quit and her approval rating has plunged to just 4%.

Last week she asked parliament to find a way and a time for her to step down, an offer that was rejected by the opposition Democratic Party as a stalling tactic. Media reports said she may make a speech this week offering to step down in April, a recommendation made by her conservative Saenuri Party.

Middle school students who were leaving the parliamentary building as chaebol bosses arrived chanted “Park Geun-hye step down!” and a scuffle between metal workers’ union members and men who appeared to be guards broke out when Hyundai Motor Group HYMTF -2.56% Chairman Chung Mong-koo, 78, arrived with his son and presumed successor, Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun.

It is the first time such a large group of major Korean corporate chieftains  housse Wiko Wax has appeared for a parliamentary hearing.

“This will be a good opportunity to express corporations’ position,” the chairman of the Hanwha Group, Kim Seung-youn, told reporters on his way into the building.

Each witness was allowed to bring one lawyer and one company official to the hearing, and, if needed, an aide for medical support, according to a lawmaker’s office.

The hearing began at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) and was expected to run until 10 p.m., according to one participant.