By Lee Min-hyung
The brouhaha over Jeong Yun-hoe, a former aide to President Park Geun-hye, suspected of meddling in state affairs, is taking a new turn after it became known that Jeong’s former wife has had a decades-long relationship with Park.
Choi Soon-sil, 58, is the daughter of Choi Tae-min, the late pastor. He had been a close confidant of President Park since she assumed the role of de facto first lady after her mother was shot dead in 1974.
Choi Soon-sil is said to have been close to Park since 1979 after Park’s father, former President Park Chung-hee, was shot dead by the head of the spy agency.
After Choi and Jeong tied the knot in 1995, Jeong is known to have had an opportunity to build relations with Park and win her trust.
When Park made her political debut as a lawmaker in 1998, Jeong was an aide to her. He has continued to assist her until he disappeared from the public eye in 2004, when Park became chairwoman of the then-ruling Grand National Party.
Even though Jeong and Choi were divorced in July of last year, media attention is also focused on the idea that Choi might give evidence about the controversy.
It is known that Choi owns real estate worth 10 billion won ($8.97 million) in the prosperous Gangnam area. But there are doubts about how she accumulated her wealth.
Jeong, 59, has allegedly kept in secret contact with 10 incumbent presidential secretaries, and meddled in state affairs since October of last year, according to internal documents from the presidential office.
He allegedly tried to mastermind a plot to oust the presidential chief secretary Kim Ki-choon, who has been denounced for wielding excessive power within the presidential office.
Meanwhile, the ruling Saenuri Party has taken a cautious stance over the leak scandal, with party chairman, Rep. Kim Moo-sung, declining to comment.
“After the prosecution finishes the investigation on the issue, I will announce the party’s official position,” he told the National Assembly on Friday.
“I hope the prosecution copes with the matter as soon as possible.”