Park determined to fight to hold on to power
Lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha, who is represents President Park Geun-hye in an investigation of a scandal involving her and her friend Chon Soon-sil, speaks at a press conference in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul, Tuesday. He asked the prosecution to postpone questioning Park, which was expected to take place this week. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-kie
President calls for investigation delay
By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye is apparently determined to stage a long battle to hold on to power in defiance of public calls for her resignation or a power transfer.
Her stance may throw the country into deeper chaos with the opposition parties joining forces to oust Park — the prime suspect in the country’s largest-ever corruption scandal.
“Taking the situation gravely, the President is seeking all means to address the current political turmoil,” said presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk in a briefing.
However, the spokesman made it clear that resignation or a transition of power was not on the cards.
In political circles, an idea emerged that President Park should announce her resignation or yield power to a prime minister recommended by the national Assembly.
However, the presidential office called this unconstitutional.
“Every solution should be taken into consideration within legal limits,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said.
Another official said the aforementioned methods violated the spirit of the Constitution.
The presidential office also announced that Park had appointed lawwer Yoo Yeong-ha to represent her, ahead of questioning by the prosecution over the scandal.
Yoo, considered a Park loyalist, asked the prosecution to postpone the questioning until next week, saying that it was physically impossible to conduct it today.
“I need considerable time to review the case and prepare to defend the President,” he told reporters, saying the prosecution should verify the facts behind a series of allegations linking Park to the scandal first.
Yoo also asked prosecutors to submit a questionnaire to the President rather than questioning her in person.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office said Sunday that it was considering questioning President Park face to face on either Tuesday or today before indicting Choi, Nov. 19.
In response to Yoo’s request, the prosecution said that they could postpone the questioning until Thursday, but made it clear that they wanted to conduct a face-to-face session.
“Considering the progress of the investigation into the case, it is definitely necessary to question the President in person to uncover the truth,” it said.
Sources said Park has already decided to complete her term, which ends in early 2018, although her approval rating has plunged to a single digit and public confidence in her performance has been completely eroded.
Amid ceaseless corruption allegations involving the President and her confidant Choi Soon-sil, 1 million people took to the streets in central Seoul, Saturday, urging Park to quit — the largest anti-government rally since the 1987 pro-democracy demonstration that led the nation’s military leaders to adopt the direct presidential election system.
Analysts said that her repudiation of public sentiment is expected to continue, which will lead to a fiercer backlash and eventually a bigger leadership crisis.
“Despite facing a series of allegations hinting that the President is at the center of the influence-peddling scandal, she still seems determined not to give up power,” said Yoon Hee-woong, a senior researcher at Opinion Live.
“If the prosecution specifies Park’s involvement in Choi’s crimes at her arraignment, it may provide ammunition for the opposition to impeach the President,” he added. “This is another strategic attempt by Park to retain her authority.”
Yoon said that the confrontation between Park and the people is likely to carry on for the present, which will prevent the President from getting state affairs back on track.
“The people have already turned their backs on the President. If Park continues to resist public calls, it is inevitable that she will face a stronger public protest against her presidency, which will further engulf her already-rocky government.”
Another candlelit rally is scheduled for Gwanghwamun Square Saturday.
Since the influence-peddling scandal took center stage in the nation late last month, Park, at a time of economic trouble and increasing tension with North Korea, has failed to perform her duties as president. Her summit with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev last Thursday was the only official event scheduled during the controversy.