President on the edge of a precipice

By Sah Dong-seok

Presidents in Korea have got embroiled in big trouble ― without exception ― because of corruption scandals involving their family members and relatives. This ugly phenomenon was the norm even after Korea became a democratic country.

Kim Hyun-chul, son of former President Kim Young-sam, was jailed for accepting bribes and evading taxes while his father was still serving as president. Two sons of Kim Dae-jung, Kim’s successor who won the Nobel Peace Prize for the landmark inter-Korean summit, were also put behind bars for corruption.

Roh Geon-pyeong, former President Roh Moo-hyun’s elder brother, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for illegally lobbying for the sale of a securities company. Roh’s successor Lee Myung-bak had to apologize for corruption cases implicating his elder brother.

However, few believed that President Park Geun-hye would be in hot water for graft scandals involving her family members because she is single and has remained aloof from her siblings. This belief was proven right until recently; but she is fast becoming a lame-duck president because of corruption scandals implicating not her relatives but her longtime confidant at a time when her popularity is tumbling amid accusations about her overall incompetence.

Park’s relations with Choi Soon-sil, who has often been called the most powerful person in the inner circle of the nation’s first female head of state, date back 40 years.

Choi, 60, the fifth daughter of pastor Choi Tae-min, was introduced to Park through her father when she was in her early 20s. The pastor, who was a controversial figure in religious circles, acted as a mentor for Park after her mother Yuk Young-soo was assassinated in 1974.

Choi allegedly remained close to Park from 1979 when former dictatorial President Park Chung-hee, the incumbent President’s father, was assassinated, to 1997 when Park entered politics ― her period in seclusion. So there were rumors that Choi was closer to Park than her siblings.

She was close to Park even after her entry into politics. Her ex-husband Chung Yun-hoi was Park’s chief secretary after she was elected as a lawmaker. There are allegations that Choi nursed Park devotedly in her hospital room when she was slashed in the face at a campaign rally in Seoul in 2006, although this has yet to be confirmed.

Prosecutors are stepping up their investigation into the so-called Choi Soon-sil gate. While much remains a mystery, what has been revealed so far through news reports makes everyone’s jaw drop.

If the past is any indication, allegations that two non-profit foundations were set up to finance Park’s activities after she leaves office are less convincing. We know that even Chun Doo-hwan, the Army general-turned-dictator, failed in his bid to maintain influence after retirement through a foundation his aides created in the 1980s by twisting the arms of family-run conglomerates.

So the odds are that Choi used her longtime connection to the President and pressured big companies to make massive contributions to set up the foundations. As the scandal has snowballed, Germany and Ewha Womans University have emerged as focus points.

According to press reports, Choi bought a hotel in Frankfurt through a shell company in May, a house near it and another house near a horse-riding school, which may have been attended by her daughter Chung Yoo-ra, a 20-year-old dressage competitor. The source of the money used to buy the properties is unknown, but it is widely believed that the K-Sports Foundation, one of the two hurriedly created organizations, served as a vehicle to provide money so that the daughter could train in Germany.

In a separate but related scandal, Ewha Womans University, the nation’s most prestigious women’s college, was accused of unfairly granting admission to Choi’s daughter and allowing her to enjoy special treatment in her classes. Choi Kyung-hee, the university’s president, resigned last week, becoming the first president to step down in its 130-year history.

While the scandal is escalating, people wonder how Choi, who has had no official title and has had no strong backers, could have wielded such strong power. But they could belatedly understand the exact reason Tuesday afternoon when President Park offered a rare apology to the nation in response to a press report that dozens of presidential speeches had been given to Choi.

As it turned out, she helped Park prepare for speeches during her presidential election campaign and the early part of her presidency. Park said she stopped asking for her help after the secretariat at the presidential office was fully established, but it appears that Choi has broadly interfered in state affairs.

Shockingly, it was Park herself who asked the woman in question to review and edit her speeches in what could be a violation of laws banning an illegal review of presidential documents. One cannot help but be lost for words for the female President’s total ignorance of how a state must be governed.

With 16 months remaining before her five-year tenure ends, the nation is in panic as there is no sign of cleaning up this mess. Park should come forward and make a frank confession about all details of the Choi Soon-sil gate. She also needs to express her intention to volunteer to undergo an independent probe.

It’s difficult to say what her remaining days in Cheong Wa Dae will be like. What is certain is that she will find it very hard to win back public trust no matter how she tries. But she has no one to blame for that but herself.

The writer is the executive editor of The Korea Times. Contact him at sahds@ktimes.com.