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By Lee Jin-a, Park Si-soo
With President Park Geun-hye defying pressure to step down, people's attention is on 50 audio files on two smartphones confiscated from former presidential secretary Jung Ho-sung.
Jung was arrested recently for allegedly leaking confidential presidential documents to Park's shadowy long-time friend Choi Soon-sil, the central figure in the burgeoning corruption scandal.
The files, reportedly containing sensitive dialogue between the President and Jung, or Choi and Jung, have caused a media frenzy after some prosecutors revealed their "profound sense of embarrassment and betrayal" after listening to the files.
A prosecutor said, "Only 10 seconds of an audio file would be long enough for people to storm the streets with torches, instead of candles."
Another prosecutor added details: "We felt an uncontrollable level of disappointment and fury at the President after listening to the files." He labeled the President as "incompetent."
The prosecution has refused to reveal further details because of the sensitive nature of the files and, above all, releasing more details before a trial is an illegal act punishable by up to three years' jail.
Despite the silence, an allegedly dictated version of the files appeared on the Internet recently, capturing massive attention.
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It is unknown who made the text file, and its credibility is questionable. Nevertheless, the file has gone viral on social media and many netizens seem to trust what it says.
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"Ms. Choi Soon-sil wants to know when the work will be done and why its progress is so sluggish," says Jung to the President over the phone, according to Kukmin Ilbo, a vernacular daily.
She (Choi) wants it to be done as soon as possible."
Park reportedly replies, "Please tell Ms. Choi that the work will be finished within this week."
In another recording, according to the daily, Choi asks Jung in an angry tone, "How is it going?" Jung answers, "I reported the matter to the President." Then Choi yells, "Why didn't she (the President) do it yet? Pressure her to finish the work by the day after tomorrow."
According to Dong-A Ilbo, another Korean daily, one audio file is of Jung and Choi discussing confidential state affairs involving the President — Park's schedules and topics for a meeting of presidential secretaries.
From the tone of the discussion, it seems like Choi is giving instructions to the President via Jung, according to the paper.
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