'EIGHT SECRET FILES' could spell the end for Park

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sat, September 30, 2023 | 18:19

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'EIGHT SECRET FILES' could spell the end for Park

Posted : 2016-12-01 14:50

Updated : 2016-12-02 08:18

Some of the leaked classified presidential documents in November 2014. The documents, obtained by Segye Ilbo daily, revealed the shadowy link between President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidants, including Choi Soon-sil and her husband Chung Yoon-hoi. The daily's former CEO says he has eight more documents, which if made public, would deal a devastating blow to Park's faltering leadership. / Korea Times file

By Lee Han-soo, Park Si-soo

Cho Han-gyu

How far will the scandal go?

Cho Han-gyu, former CEO of Segye Ilbo daily, said recently he has eight confidential presidential documents, which ― if made public ― would deal a "finishing blow" to embattled President Park Geun-hye.

But he has refused to publish them, saying "I'm afraid these documents would shake not only the President but also the country's legislation, judiciary and administration to their roots."

He made the disclosure during an online talk show on Nov. 21. Cho said he would not reveal more because"Her (Park's) criminal acts stipulated in the documents are grave enough to be considered a sort of rebellion."

The former journalist added, "If the documents are revealed to the public, the country's democracy will be under a cloud internationally."

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Segye Ilbo was the first media outlet to shed light on the shadowy link between the President and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil in November 2014, when Cho was the daily's chief.

The report was based on a classified presidential document written by a police officer dedicated to monitoring people surrounding the President.

When the news broke on Nov. 28, 2014, the presidential office vehemently denied it, taking legal action against the newspaper and the police officer and demanding that Cho quit the job to take responsibility for spreading "groundless and defamatory" information.

Cho said he took the eight sealed documents when he left the company in February 2015 in the face of mounting pressure to resign.

The police officer, Park Guan-chun, is reported to have told prosecutors at that time, "President Park is third in the chain of command, while Choi Soon-sil is at the top and her husband Chung Yoon-hoi ranks second."

Back then, nobody believed this, giving Choi an opportunity to wield unchallenged influence over state affairs from the shadows for two more years.

Rumors have it that the documents include intelligence about vote rigging and the assassination of an influential politician.

pss@ktimes.com