The prosecution has indicted former President Park Geun-hye on 18 charges including bribery. She is the third former leader to be arrested and charged for corruption following Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo.
The amount of money in the bribes cited in the indictment rose to 59.2 billion won ($52 million) as the prosecution added bribes involving Lotte and SK Groups. Park didn't receive money directly, but prosecutors concluded that the impeached leader received bribes from conglomerates in collusion with her shadowy confidant Choi Soon-sil. Park also faces charges of giving state documents to Choi and ordering her aides to blacklist artists critical of her.
It is a pity that the public has to see the former president stand trial for corruption. The root cause of the unprecedented political scandal is that Park used the power entrusted to her by the public to help Choi seek personal gain. Much to our regret, those who should have been on the outlook for such wrongdoings near the disgraced leader helped her with her alleged illegal acts or stood idly by.
Most noteworthy among the charges is bribery. Prosecutors accused Park of receiving 7 billion won from Lotte, in addition to the 43.3 billion won she allegedly received from Samsung. The Lotte money was returned later, but prosecutors still regard it as a bribe.
The prosecution also said Park asked SK to donate 8.9 billion won, but the conglomerate didn't give the money. The top law enforcement agency unusually saw even the money demanded and returned as bribes. This might reflect the prosecution's resolve not to tolerate any form of illicit deals between conglomerates and political power. Big businesses must rectify their past misdeeds and reset their relations with those in power.
Park's indictment has sealed the high-profile corruption and influence-peddling scandal that came to the fore last October through press reports. What remains is a fierce court battle over the prosecution's struggle to prove the charges.
Park has never admitted any wrongdoing, blaming Choi for abusing their longtime friendship. The judiciary will determine whether she is guilty or not. One thing that is clear is she has to cooperate in court proceedings sincerely so that all suspicions are cleared and the truth comes out.
The amount of money in the bribes cited in the indictment rose to 59.2 billion won ($52 million) as the prosecution added bribes involving Lotte and SK Groups. Park didn't receive money directly, but prosecutors concluded that the impeached leader received bribes from conglomerates in collusion with her shadowy confidant Choi Soon-sil. Park also faces charges of giving state documents to Choi and ordering her aides to blacklist artists critical of her.
It is a pity that the public has to see the former president stand trial for corruption. The root cause of the unprecedented political scandal is that Park used the power entrusted to her by the public to help Choi seek personal gain. Much to our regret, those who should have been on the outlook for such wrongdoings near the disgraced leader helped her with her alleged illegal acts or stood idly by.
Most noteworthy among the charges is bribery. Prosecutors accused Park of receiving 7 billion won from Lotte, in addition to the 43.3 billion won she allegedly received from Samsung. The Lotte money was returned later, but prosecutors still regard it as a bribe.
The prosecution also said Park asked SK to donate 8.9 billion won, but the conglomerate didn't give the money. The top law enforcement agency unusually saw even the money demanded and returned as bribes. This might reflect the prosecution's resolve not to tolerate any form of illicit deals between conglomerates and political power. Big businesses must rectify their past misdeeds and reset their relations with those in power.
Park's indictment has sealed the high-profile corruption and influence-peddling scandal that came to the fore last October through press reports. What remains is a fierce court battle over the prosecution's struggle to prove the charges.
Park has never admitted any wrongdoing, blaming Choi for abusing their longtime friendship. The judiciary will determine whether she is guilty or not. One thing that is clear is she has to cooperate in court proceedings sincerely so that all suspicions are cleared and the truth comes out.
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