Candlelit protests led by N. Korea sympathizer: Park's lawyers

Three key figures in the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye attend their first official hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, southern Seoul, Thursday. They are Park’s confidant Choi Soon-sil, second from left, former presidential secretary An Chong-bum, fourth from left, and former private secretary Jeong Ho-seong, right. Choi denied all charges against her, saying she feels victimized and asked the court to verify the truth. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon

Lawyers for Park deny all charges

By Lee Kyung-min

Lawyers representing President Park Geun-hye said Thursday that protesters at the candlelit rallies did not represent the people because a North Korean sympathizer orchestrated the gatherings, claiming that the people’s demands were not grounds for her impeachment.

Over the past 10 weeks, more than 10 million people have gathered to demand Park’s resignation over an influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

With Park absent again at the second official impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court, her defense attorneys claimed the impeachment was sought unfairly, saying that a low approval rate and negative public sentiment cannot be reasons for impeachment.

“Protesters who gathered near Cheong Wa Dae with candles do not represent the people as a whole,” they said.

They alleged that the organizer of the candlelit rallies was a North Korea sympathizer.

“The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions organized weekend rallies. And the composer of a song satirizing Park, which was sung during the rallies, was previously arrested for violating the National Security Law by praising former North Korea leader Kim Il-sung.”

The attorneys said that Park should be tried according to criminal case procedures, urging the court to apply strict standards in accepting evidence ― a move seen as to stall the court proceedings for as long as possible.

Chief Judge Kang Il-won dismissed the claim, saying an impeachment trial was not the same as a criminal trial.

The defense lawyers denied all impeachment charges against Park, saying they were based on allegations, not concrete evidence. They said the President was not involved in bribery, adding she did not order the National Pension Service (NPS) to facilitate a merger of two Samsung Group subsidiaries. The NPS had shares in the two affiliates.

Her request for conglomerates to raise funds for two foundations set up by Choi was also a policy aimed at promoting the sports and culture industries, they said.

In response, the National Assembly prosecutorial panel said Park’s impeachment was the first step toward restoring faith in the country in accordance with the Constitution.

“Her violations of the Constitution and other laws are grave enough to remove her from the presidency,” said Saenuri Party Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, chairman of the Assembly panel.

The panel claimed that Park betrayed the public trust placed in her as an elected leader by allowing Choi, who does not hold a government position, to interfere in state affairs including the appointment of top personnel.

Park was derelict in her duty, the panel added, as she failed to uphold her primary responsibility as President to protect the lives of the people with her seven-hour absence on the day of the Sewol ferry sinking on April 16, 2014.

“Park’s alleged forcing fundraising from conglomerates shows she abused her power for personal benefit, which means she is unqualified to lead the state,” Kwon said.

In the meantime, key witnesses did not attend the hearing. Two former presidential secretaries, An Bong-geun and Lee Jae-man, apparently avoided receiving court subpoenas to dodge testifying. The court said it would try to call them in again, Jan. 19.

Another witness, Lee Young-seon, a presidential security official, received the subpoena but submitted a written reason for his absence earlier in the day. The court demanded Lee attend next Thursday’s hearing.

Yoon Jeon-chu, a former fitness trainer who Park gave an official position to at Cheong Wa Dae, was the only witness to attend the hearing.

Regarding Park’s whereabouts on the day of Sewol ferry disaster, Yoon said she saw Park at 8:30 a.m., as Park asked her to come to her office in her residence, but said that she does not remember why Park needed her.

She said Park may have learned about the sinking at around 10 a.m. after receiving a written report. Yoon said that An went into Park’s office in the residence and stayed there until lunchtime. Yoon said she brought two hairstylists to Park in the afternoon and drove them back after Park had her hair and makeup done.

She also said that she met with Choi on numerous occasions inside Cheong Wa Dae, and worked with her on choosing Park’s clothes.

Meanwhile, a separate hearing was held at the Seoul Central District Court for the three key figures in the scandal ― Choi and two former presidential secretaries, An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong.

Choi denied all charges against her, saying she feels victimized and asking the court to verify the truth. Choi’s lawyer said she had never colluded with Park or An Chong-bum in raising funds from conglomerates.

An denied the charges against him, adding that he asked the business groups for money only to follow Park’s order.

Jeong said he would clarify his stance at the next hearing.