South Korean prosecutors seek 30 years for Park Geun Hye (Photo: New York Times)

Supporters who braved the winter cold outside the Seoul court demanded her immediate release. Park, 66, was dismissed in March after being impeached and is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion in a case that rocked the country's business and political elite. She denies all wrongdoing.

The prosecution's recommendation came two weeks after Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of Park who was at the centre of the scandal, was jailed for 20 years for taking bribes of more than 55 million USD from conglomerates, including electronics powerhouse Samsung and retail giant Lotte.

Park was the first South Korean president, elected democratically, to be removed from the office. The verdict is expected later next month.