Ko testifies about Choi's influence in Park administration
In the left photo, Ko Young-tae, a former business partner of Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye’s confidant involved in the influence-peddling scandal, heads to the Seoul Central District Court to testify as a witness in Choi’s criminal trial, Monday. In the right photo, Choi enters the court for her trial, Monday. / Korea Times photos by Ko Young-kwon
By Kim Bo-eun
Ko Young-tae, a former business partner of Choi Soon-sil, testified Monday about her influence over the President Park Geun-hye administration.
“I quit working on the President’s wardrobe after I realized it was risky,” Ko said during a court hearing where he was summoned as a witness.
“It occurred to me that some questionable arrangements were taking place. Choi asked her former friend Cha Eun-taek for recommendations for positions such as ministers and heads of government agencies, and Cha’s recommendations later took effect. Budgets were also drawn up according to their plans.”
Choi, who did not hold a government post, allegedly meddled in state affairs including personnel matters. She also allegedly had access to confidential state files including early drafts of the President’s speeches which she edited.
The hearing was the first time Ko and Choi met face-to-face since the scandal erupted last October.
Ko released a video of Choi ordering Park’s aides around, after their relationship turned sour.
The video was among the earliest sources of Choi’s role in the Park administration.
Since then, Ko has been providing testimony on allegations raised against Choi.
“In whatever she did, Choi said she ‘worked for the President’ and ‘kept loyal to the President,’” Ko said.
“Choi frequented Cheong Wa Dae and treated the presidential secretaries as her own.”
Ko is also the former head of The Blue K, a paper company Choi set up in Germany.
He said while he worked for the company, he saw Choi editing a draft of the President’s speech.
In addition, Ko provided accounts that Choi was entirely in charge of the K-Sports Foundation, one of two set up under the pretext of globally promoting Korea’s sports and culture, but were actually a means to funnel funds to Choi.
Ko said Choi fired him from his position at The Blue K after the media started reporting on suspicions related to her management of the foundations in August.
Ko said he met Choi while he was running a bag manufacturing business.
He denied knowing Choi’s background prior to meeting her, but said he learnt more about her from Ryu Sang-young, a former senior-level official of The Blue K.