The people’s fury toward President Park Geun-hye reached new heights after Cheong Wa Dae’s incomprehensible response to the prosecution’s interim investigation results of an unprecedented influence-peddling scandal.
In particular, President Park’s uncooperativeness with the prosecution, which fingered the President as an accomplice in the so-called Choi Soon-sil scandal, leads many to seriously question Park’s ability to think rationally.
Going back on her own words, Park responded to the prosecution’s announcement through her legal representative that she will refuse to undergo questioning. This goes completely against what she said during her nationally televised apology on Nov. 4 in which she vowed to submit herself to an investigation if necessary. After the prosecution indicted her longtime confidant Choi and two former Cheong Wa Dae aides earlier this week and linked the President to most of their criminal acts, the presidential office questioned the fairness of the prosecution’s investigation results and made it clear it will not respond to its future requests for questioning. It also refused to recognize any of the prosecution’s assertions of her involvement in the scandal.
Cheong Wa Dae even mocked the prosecution by saying the investigation results were based on “imagination” and that they have built a “house of fantasy.” As President, it is one of Park’s most important duties to uphold the rule of law. It is extremely regrettable that not only has the President gone back on her own word, but also displayed a glaring lack of respect toward rule of law by defying the prosecution’s call for questioning. Cheong Wa Dae’s assertion of Park’s innocence does not resonate with the people at all. If she truly has nothing to be ashamed of, the rational thing would have been to cooperate with the investigation.
Cheong Wa Dae said it will start preparing for a “neutral” investigation by an independent counsel. The Cabinet approved a bill Tuesday that would allow the opposition parties to pick candidates for an independent counsel to investigate the scandal. But what happens when Park determines the independent counsel is not in her favor? Will she refuse to cooperate then as well? If she continues obstructing the investigations, she will only make things worse for herself and the country.
Park has also signaled that she may change her mind on the appointment of a new prime minister. During a visit with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun on Nov. 7, the President said she will nominate a new prime minister recommended by the Assembly and hand over the control of the Cabinet. But this week, Cheong Wa Dae hinted that circumstances had changed and it will wait and see on the issue of appointing a new prime minister. This kind of flighty attitude is not something the people want to see from a scandal-ridden President who has brought shame to the country and crippled state affairs.