Former senior adviser to south Korean President An Chong-bum arrested for 48 hours after being questioned on charges of corruption and abuse of power, South Korean Central prosecutor's office noted.

Prosecutors placed him under emergency detention, worried that he could destroy evidence and put pressure on key witnesses, Reuters reported.

As Yonhap reported, President Park Geun-hye appointed Han Gwang-ok, chairman of the Presidential Committee for National Cohesion, as her new chief of staff and Hur Won-je, a former journalist-turned-politician, as her senior secretary for political affairs.

Prosecutors have said they are looking into allegations that the former senior adviser, An Chong-bum, and Choi Soon-sil, a long-time friend of the president, forced South Korean conglomerates to donate funds to non-profit foundations using their connections with the president.