Key suspect in Choi scandal arrives in Seoul
Artistic director Cha Eun-taek, one of the key figures in the influence-peddling scandal involving Choi Soon-sil, is being questioned by reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport in late Tuesday evening. Prosecutors arrested Cha at the airport and took him to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. / Yonhap
By Rachel Lee
Artistic director Cha Eun-taek, one of the key figures in the influence-peddling scandal involving Choi Soon-sil, a close confidant to President Park Geun-hye, arrived in Seoul, Tuesday.
Prosecutors arrested Cha upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport and took him to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
The advertising director is allegedly involved in managing the Mir Foundation with Choi. The foundation is a “non-profit organization” for which conglomerates were forced to raise funds for its establishment in October 2015.
Cha is also suspected to have forced a mid-sized advertising company, an in-house public relations company for POSCO, to hand over its shares to a third party comprised of his close acquaintances.
He is also suspected of intervening in diverse government projects.
In April last year, Cha was named director of the creative convergence center under the Creative Economy Initiative, which runs the Culture Creation Convergence Belt, one of the culture ministry's major projects with an annual budget of 90.3 billion won ($80 million) this year, and 127 billion won next year.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched a task force last week to investigate and review projects with suspected ties to Choi and Cha. The team is led by First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jung Kwan-joo.
Cha allegedly has abused his close ties with the President along with Choi who is accused of interfering in even security and economic policies ― from speechwriting to nominating officials ― despite holding no official position or security clearance.
Cha left for China last month amid the swirling scandal, which made it difficult to proceed with the investigation if he refused to return and cooperate.