By Kim Se-jeong
Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, appealed the Danish court’s extradition order, Wednesday local time. Korean prosecutors seek to arrest her for her part in the corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye. Choi is Park’s confidant.
The appeal came immediately after the District Court of Aalborg ordered her extradition. Chung has been detained since Jan. 2, fighting to stay in Denmark.
The hearing in the appeals court is likely to take up to two months according to Chung’s lawyer, Michael Juul Eriksen.
Speaking with local journalists in Aalborg, the lawyer also said: “Of course, this is not what we hoped for. The judge did agree that they didn’t present any evidence at all, but he just thought that they didn’t need to do that. I still think there are special circumstances in this case and the prosecutors have to provide some kind of evidence for the accusation.”
The lawyer also added that Chung would like to go back home if she would be allowed to stay with her son.
“That is actually one of her main reasons that she wants to stay in Denmark. If they could just provide some kind of security, some guarantee that she will be able to see her son when she is sent to Korea, she will be willing to go to Korea right away. But she’s simply afraid they will take her child away from her and use it against her in this case.”
She has been staying in a detention center in Aalborg, Denmark, after being arrested on Jan. 2. Overstaying her visa was the initial charge and she hired a lawyer to stay in Denmark. She has an infant son, and although he is not staying with her in the detention center, she is said to have regular contact with him.
Chung’s return will complete the Korean prosecution’s investigations into the influence-peddling scandal involving the former president. Besides Park, the scandal also put Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, former Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun and a couple of former presidential secretaries on trial.
A former dressage competitor, Chung is facing allegations that she knowingly received special favors from Ewha Womans University when she was admitted and during her stay at the school. Some of her colleagues complained Chung had earned good scores even though she skipped classes.
Yet, it will take time to bring Chung back. She is denying all the allegations against her. In previous hearings, she has argued that she had fallen victim to local politics and her basic human rights would be violated if she returns. Yesterday, her lawyer said she is no longer seeking political asylum.