By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye is falling deeper into a swirling scandal involving her long-time confidant Choi Soon-sil as public sentiment is rapidly turning against her, triggering concerns that she may become an early lame duck. Park's term ends in February 2018.
In the wake of media reports that Choi, who has no official job in the Park government, had prior access to presidential speeches and edited them, the President offered a public apology, Tuesday. However, this was not enough to put a lid on the political firestorm.
As a result, Park is facing growing pressure to replace those "responsible," including three key aides and the chief secretary for civil affairs, which may immobilize her administration and hasten the arrival of lame-duck status.
"The scandal exemplifies that Cheong Wa Dae's system is broken. Although we have seen previous presidents grappling with scandals near the end of their terms, this sort of case involving a secret heavyweight meddling in state affairs is unprecedented," said Chung Goon-gi, a professor at Hongik University.
Bae Jong-chan, the chief director of political pollster Research and Research, said Park's apology failed to ease the growing furor because she did not come up with any solutions.
"People wanted to hear from her about how to settle the problem surrounding Choi along with the apology," he said.
The ruling Saenuri Party urged Park, Wednesday, to carry out an extensive reshuffle of her senior secretaries and Cabinet to assume responsibility for the controversy.
"This should not just end with an apology," Chairman Lee Jung-hyun said following a Supreme Council meeting.
Floor leader Park Jie-won of the second-largest opposition People's Party also urged President Park to dismiss her three closest advisers ― Lee Jae-man, Jeong Ho-sung and An Bong-geun ― and Woo Byung-woo, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs.
The three aides, currently serving as secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, were recruited by Chung Yoon-hoi, Choi's former husband and a former senior aide to Park.
One of the three is suspected of having delivered the copies of the presidential speeches to Choi.
The already scandal-ridden civil affairs secretary is under fire for his negligence in preventing the influence-peddling scandal.
"The first thing that the President must do to refresh the government is to dismiss the three secretaries and Woo right now and offer an explanation," the floor leader said in a party meeting.
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Woo Sang-ho said although the President cannot be prosecuted, it does not mean that she is immune from the obligation to reveal the truth.
Despite the calls, the presidential office will have difficulty in coming up with any appropriate measures.
Cheong Wa Dae believes that a reshuffle, hastened by public opinion, could cause government malfunction, should it fail to find proper replacements. In addition, it remains cautious over Woo, given that an investigation into allegations made against him is ongoing.
"A personnel reshuffle is necessary, but dismissing her close aides may adversely affect the President's administration of state affairs," said a Cheong Wa Dae official.
Political watchers say that without replacing those responsible for the scandal, Park will have trouble regaining public trust.
"A quick arrest and prosecution of Choi and a dismissal of Woo should be done by the end of the year or the beginning of next year. Otherwise, she will lose her grip on state affairs," said Bae.
President Park Geun-hye is falling deeper into a swirling scandal involving her long-time confidant Choi Soon-sil as public sentiment is rapidly turning against her, triggering concerns that she may become an early lame duck. Park's term ends in February 2018.
In the wake of media reports that Choi, who has no official job in the Park government, had prior access to presidential speeches and edited them, the President offered a public apology, Tuesday. However, this was not enough to put a lid on the political firestorm.
As a result, Park is facing growing pressure to replace those "responsible," including three key aides and the chief secretary for civil affairs, which may immobilize her administration and hasten the arrival of lame-duck status.
"The scandal exemplifies that Cheong Wa Dae's system is broken. Although we have seen previous presidents grappling with scandals near the end of their terms, this sort of case involving a secret heavyweight meddling in state affairs is unprecedented," said Chung Goon-gi, a professor at Hongik University.
Bae Jong-chan, the chief director of political pollster Research and Research, said Park's apology failed to ease the growing furor because she did not come up with any solutions.
"People wanted to hear from her about how to settle the problem surrounding Choi along with the apology," he said.
The ruling Saenuri Party urged Park, Wednesday, to carry out an extensive reshuffle of her senior secretaries and Cabinet to assume responsibility for the controversy.
"This should not just end with an apology," Chairman Lee Jung-hyun said following a Supreme Council meeting.
"We agreed to call on the President to replace anyone who is related with the scandal."
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Floor leader Park Jie-won of the second-largest opposition People's Party also urged President Park to dismiss her three closest advisers ― Lee Jae-man, Jeong Ho-sung and An Bong-geun ― and Woo Byung-woo, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs.
The three aides, currently serving as secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, were recruited by Chung Yoon-hoi, Choi's former husband and a former senior aide to Park.
One of the three is suspected of having delivered the copies of the presidential speeches to Choi.
The already scandal-ridden civil affairs secretary is under fire for his negligence in preventing the influence-peddling scandal.
"The first thing that the President must do to refresh the government is to dismiss the three secretaries and Woo right now and offer an explanation," the floor leader said in a party meeting.
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Woo Sang-ho said although the President cannot be prosecuted, it does not mean that she is immune from the obligation to reveal the truth.
Despite the calls, the presidential office will have difficulty in coming up with any appropriate measures.
Cheong Wa Dae believes that a reshuffle, hastened by public opinion, could cause government malfunction, should it fail to find proper replacements. In addition, it remains cautious over Woo, given that an investigation into allegations made against him is ongoing.
"A personnel reshuffle is necessary, but dismissing her close aides may adversely affect the President's administration of state affairs," said a Cheong Wa Dae official.
Political watchers say that without replacing those responsible for the scandal, Park will have trouble regaining public trust.
"A quick arrest and prosecution of Choi and a dismissal of Woo should be done by the end of the year or the beginning of next year. Otherwise, she will lose her grip on state affairs," said Bae.
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