By Yi Whan-woo
President Park Geun-hye has not yet made a decision on whether to accept or turn down the resignations offered by Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong and senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Choi Jai-kyeong a week ago on the same day, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Monday.
This is because their offers have put Park in a dilemma. If the President accepts them, she should name their successors. However, there are few prosecutors or judges who are willing to assume the posts at this time when the prosecution is escalating its investigation into the scandal-ridden Park.
If Park rejects their resignations, Kim and Choi will have to stay against their will, and this will also create an awkward situation.
Park badly needs their assistance to defend herself from the prosecution's investigation, but their resignation offers have put her in deep trouble.
Kim and Choi held themselves responsible after the prosecution identified Park as a "criminal suspect" in its interim report about the scandal announced Nov. 20.
It is speculated that the possible departure of Kim and Choi would lead to the break up of Park's Cabinet and secretariat.
It is also seen that Park will lose control over the prosecution that has been pressing her to cooperate with its investigation into the scandal if she accepts Kim's and Choi's resignations.
The prosecution has been asking her to show up for face-to-face questioning by Tuesday at the latest.
Kim and Choi were seen as critical in giving her legal advice and protecting her.
Kim is in charge of overseeing the prosecution, while Choi, also a retired prosecutor, receives reports directly from government bodies empowered with investigative rights, such as the police and prosecution.
The possible resignations of Kim and Choi are expected to add to Park's woes as well in dealing with the opposition-dominated National Assembly, which has been calling for the President's resignation or impeachment.
The appointment of a justice minister requires a parliamentary hearing.
The opposition parties have been insisting on forming a new Cabinet comprised of opposition-picked members, meaning the parties are likely to boycott the hearing if Park selects a justice minister nominee.
In this climate, Kim and Choi are reluctant to carry out their duties, according to sources at Cheong Wa Dae, suggesting that they may not actively help Park grapple with her leadership crisis even if they stay at their posts.
According to presidential office officials, Park returned the letter of resignation submitted by Choi, Friday, and he has been coming to work as usual since then.
However, he said he remains unchanged over his decision to quit and that he will only serve in his job until a successor is picked.
Some presidential officials said Kim is "too stubborn" in his determination to leave, ignoring efforts to persuade him to stay.
Kim was appointed to lead the ministry in July 2015.
Choi had only been formally appointed to his post Nov. 18.
Park named him for the job in a partial reshuffle of her aides to cope with the snowballing scandal. He succeeded Woo Byung-woo, who faces allegations of embezzlement and abuse of power and also is suspected of having links to Choi Soon-sil.
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| Kim Hyun-woong |
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| Choi Jai-kyeong |
This is because their offers have put Park in a dilemma. If the President accepts them, she should name their successors. However, there are few prosecutors or judges who are willing to assume the posts at this time when the prosecution is escalating its investigation into the scandal-ridden Park.
If Park rejects their resignations, Kim and Choi will have to stay against their will, and this will also create an awkward situation.
Park badly needs their assistance to defend herself from the prosecution's investigation, but their resignation offers have put her in deep trouble.
Kim and Choi held themselves responsible after the prosecution identified Park as a "criminal suspect" in its interim report about the scandal announced Nov. 20.
It is speculated that the possible departure of Kim and Choi would lead to the break up of Park's Cabinet and secretariat.
It is also seen that Park will lose control over the prosecution that has been pressing her to cooperate with its investigation into the scandal if she accepts Kim's and Choi's resignations.
The prosecution has been asking her to show up for face-to-face questioning by Tuesday at the latest.
Kim and Choi were seen as critical in giving her legal advice and protecting her.
Kim is in charge of overseeing the prosecution, while Choi, also a retired prosecutor, receives reports directly from government bodies empowered with investigative rights, such as the police and prosecution.
The possible resignations of Kim and Choi are expected to add to Park's woes as well in dealing with the opposition-dominated National Assembly, which has been calling for the President's resignation or impeachment.
The appointment of a justice minister requires a parliamentary hearing.
The opposition parties have been insisting on forming a new Cabinet comprised of opposition-picked members, meaning the parties are likely to boycott the hearing if Park selects a justice minister nominee.
In this climate, Kim and Choi are reluctant to carry out their duties, according to sources at Cheong Wa Dae, suggesting that they may not actively help Park grapple with her leadership crisis even if they stay at their posts.
According to presidential office officials, Park returned the letter of resignation submitted by Choi, Friday, and he has been coming to work as usual since then.
However, he said he remains unchanged over his decision to quit and that he will only serve in his job until a successor is picked.
Some presidential officials said Kim is "too stubborn" in his determination to leave, ignoring efforts to persuade him to stay.
Kim was appointed to lead the ministry in July 2015.
Choi had only been formally appointed to his post Nov. 18.
Park named him for the job in a partial reshuffle of her aides to cope with the snowballing scandal. He succeeded Woo Byung-woo, who faces allegations of embezzlement and abuse of power and also is suspected of having links to Choi Soon-sil.
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