Choi Soon-sil asked gangster to scare off daughter's boyfriend

By Lee Han-soo

Choi Soon-sil, the woman behind the influence-peddling scandal and accused of having illegitimately meddled in Korean state affairs, allegedly asked a syndicate boss to “take care of” her daughter’s boyfriend.

Choi Soon-sil and her older sister, Choi Soon-deuk, allegedly met the gangster, whose identity has not been revealed, in July 2015, according to local daily Chosun Ilbo.

“An acquaintance requested that I meet up with them,” the man said. “I didn’t know who they were. I just heard that they had a lot of money.”

Choi said her daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, was living with her boyfriend near Sinrim-dong and spent more than 20 million won ($17,531) a month.

“We have tried everything to break them up and failed miserably,” Choi allegedly said. “Help us get rid of him.”

But the gangster refused Choi’s request, saying he was not a concierge and he did not want to meddle in a family affair.