More rumors on Choi's resignation

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Choi Dae-seok

Park Geun-hye’s presidential transition team has a lingering question to answer.

It is why Choi Dae-seok, professor at the Ewha Womans University and a member of the team with regard to national security and unification, stepped down.

It is the first time that a transition team member has quit. Choi was talked about as a strong candidate to be Park’s unification minister. The team says Choi left for personal reasons without explaining why.

His unexplained resignation has triggered speculation as to the reason, denting the credibility of the transition team when it is fighting criticism over its transparency.

The latest is about North Korea.

A vernacular newspaper argues that Choi might have been held responsible for a meeting that misfired in December with North Korean officials he allegedly arranged for a lawmaker close to Park.

Choi has promoted the resumption of engagement with the North, calling for a halt to the current sanctions imposed on the Stalinist country and interpreting the North’s New Year message as an indication of its willingness to reconcile with Seoul.

In an email to acquaintances, Choi denied the media report that his resignation was related to any illicit activities.

On Wednesday, rumors and speculation about his stepping down mushroomed. Some alleged that his past activities at a non-profit humanitarian group could have pressed him to leave the transition team.

Previously, Choi served as one of the co-leaders of the Korean Sharing Movement, a non-partisan group dedicated to providing humanitarian support for North Korean residents.

The group denied the allegation that Choi was involved in any dubious activities while working with it.

Another rumor is that he is taking the rap for divulging to the media Park’s plan to set up a control tower in Cheong Wa Dae for national security affairs.

Others pointed to ties he has through marriage with GS Group.

His father-in-law currently serves as honorary chairman of GS Retail which owns nationwide chain GS 25 and Mister Donut.

According to Yonhap News Agency, his wife has stakes in Cosmo Group, an affiliate of GS Group which is run by her brother.

In February 2011, Choi, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul and director of Ewha Institute of Unification Studies, sold his 13,200 Cosmo shares and his wife purchased the same number on the same day, it reported.

Some industry experts claim that the company is suspicious of illicit activities, including insider information trading.

If Choi is nominated as unification minister, he will have to pass a parliamentary confirmation hearing before assuming the post.

Opposition lawmakers would put his professional and family background as well as his tax records or possible involvement in any illicit activities under the microscope.