Park should allow herself to be investigated
President Park Geun-hye has brought this mess called "Choi Soon-sil gate" on the nation, so the least she can do is to help get the cleaning process started. For that, Park should disarm herself of legal protections due to the holder of the office of president and volunteer to be investigated.
On Thursday, the prosecution launched a special probe into a growing body of allegations that Choi, the President's confidante of 40 years, had meddled in important state affairs and enriched herself by corporate extortion with the help of top presidential aides. But ironically, it also said the President is untouchable.
Although there are some grounds for argument, it is true that Park, as head of state, enjoys constitutional privileges of being exempted from criminal prosecution ― probe and punishment ― except for sedition or conspiracy with foreign forces against the state. The alternative is an impeachment but it would be time-consuming, thereby subjecting the nation into a protracted period of trauma.
Only Park holds the key to the speedy conclusion of this unhappy event and she should use it without delay by declaring that she would let the prosecution investigate her and her aides.
Her aides are now in a state of denial, obviously thinking that if they hunker down long enough the storm will blow over. An Chong-bum, presidential secretary for policy coordination, denied that he even knew Choi, despite accounts by witnesses and evidence that he led an effort to raise tens of billions of won for entities under her control. An has allegedly applied pressure on SK, whose chairman received a pardon, and Lotte in the middle of a slush fund probe. Lotte's "donation" of 7 billion won had been reportedly returned just before the probe. He, together with Vice Sports Minister Kim Chong, intervened to help Choi's firm get support from the Seven Luck Casino under the state-controlled Korea Tourism Organization. Woo Byung-woo, aide for civil affairs, is suspected of not stopping the leaks of Cheong Wa Dae documents to Choi. There are other aides who are suspected of owing their allegiance to Choi.
To be fair, they should be given a chance to exonerate themselves if they are wrongly accused, as they claim. Park should set an example for them to follow. This way, she will have a chance to prove Choi's participation in the President's decision-making process was limited as she said in her apology. Of course, she should be treated respectfully, with her immunity as the incumbent head of state to be guaranteed.
Outside, allegations and rumors are spreading so uncontrollably that Park is being portrayed as nothing but an avatar president controlled at the beck and call of Choi, and lets Choi exercise unlimited influence on state affairs, even including foreign affairs and national defense, as well as economic policy.
It is also suspected that Park is still under Choi's spell, seeking her counsel in dealing with the scandal and using presidential powers to protect her sworn sister sealed in cultist belief.
People want and deserve to know the truth about what happened and Park as president has an obligation to meet their demands as she promised to "protect and guard the nation" in her inaugural oath. People are the nation and their will is her only mandate, she should remind herself.
Still unconvinced, the President should pay attention to growing calls by students and professors for her resignation and impeachment. Juxtapose that image with nationwide popular protests toward the end of her late father Park Chung-hee's 16-year rule and the ensuing confusion. Spare us from a tragic reenactment, Ms. President!
President Park Geun-hye has brought this mess called "Choi Soon-sil gate" on the nation, so the least she can do is to help get the cleaning process started. For that, Park should disarm herself of legal protections due to the holder of the office of president and volunteer to be investigated.
On Thursday, the prosecution launched a special probe into a growing body of allegations that Choi, the President's confidante of 40 years, had meddled in important state affairs and enriched herself by corporate extortion with the help of top presidential aides. But ironically, it also said the President is untouchable.
Although there are some grounds for argument, it is true that Park, as head of state, enjoys constitutional privileges of being exempted from criminal prosecution ― probe and punishment ― except for sedition or conspiracy with foreign forces against the state. The alternative is an impeachment but it would be time-consuming, thereby subjecting the nation into a protracted period of trauma.
Only Park holds the key to the speedy conclusion of this unhappy event and she should use it without delay by declaring that she would let the prosecution investigate her and her aides.
Her aides are now in a state of denial, obviously thinking that if they hunker down long enough the storm will blow over. An Chong-bum, presidential secretary for policy coordination, denied that he even knew Choi, despite accounts by witnesses and evidence that he led an effort to raise tens of billions of won for entities under her control. An has allegedly applied pressure on SK, whose chairman received a pardon, and Lotte in the middle of a slush fund probe. Lotte's "donation" of 7 billion won had been reportedly returned just before the probe. He, together with Vice Sports Minister Kim Chong, intervened to help Choi's firm get support from the Seven Luck Casino under the state-controlled Korea Tourism Organization. Woo Byung-woo, aide for civil affairs, is suspected of not stopping the leaks of Cheong Wa Dae documents to Choi. There are other aides who are suspected of owing their allegiance to Choi.
To be fair, they should be given a chance to exonerate themselves if they are wrongly accused, as they claim. Park should set an example for them to follow. This way, she will have a chance to prove Choi's participation in the President's decision-making process was limited as she said in her apology. Of course, she should be treated respectfully, with her immunity as the incumbent head of state to be guaranteed.
Outside, allegations and rumors are spreading so uncontrollably that Park is being portrayed as nothing but an avatar president controlled at the beck and call of Choi, and lets Choi exercise unlimited influence on state affairs, even including foreign affairs and national defense, as well as economic policy.
It is also suspected that Park is still under Choi's spell, seeking her counsel in dealing with the scandal and using presidential powers to protect her sworn sister sealed in cultist belief.
People want and deserve to know the truth about what happened and Park as president has an obligation to meet their demands as she promised to "protect and guard the nation" in her inaugural oath. People are the nation and their will is her only mandate, she should remind herself.
Still unconvinced, the President should pay attention to growing calls by students and professors for her resignation and impeachment. Juxtapose that image with nationwide popular protests toward the end of her late father Park Chung-hee's 16-year rule and the ensuing confusion. Spare us from a tragic reenactment, Ms. President!
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