Cheong Wa Dae dodges investigation

Civic group members submit a petition to Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office calling for investigators to raid Cheong Wa Dae over the corruption and influence-peddling scandal involving Choi Soon-sil, a close confidant of President Park Geun-hye, Friday. They claimed the presidential office may destroy related evidence. / Yonhap

Evidence destruction feared at presidential office

By Lee Kyung-min

Concerns are growing over the effectiveness of an investigation into President Park Geun-hye’s confidant Choi Soon-sil, involved in an influence-peddling scandal, as Cheong Wa Dae and the President are excluded from the investigation.

It is crucial for the prosecution to secure necessary materials including computer hard disks in its investigation into Choi who allegedly gained access to confidential documents connected to state affairs. However, the prosecution has not raided and does not plan to raid Cheong Wa Dae, where most key evidence may be preserved, raising suspicions that the presidential office may have been destroying key evidence.

The dozens of locations raided include the homes and offices of officials at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which allegedly expedited the approval of the establishment of the Mir and K-Sports foundations which Choi allegedly controlled, as well as homes and offices of the officials of the foundations, and the Federation of Korean Industries which allegedly raised funds from conglomerates to set up the foundations.

Allegations against Choi include meddling in state affairs by having access to highly classified government information and peddling influence in the establishment and operation of the two foundations with the help of the President.

To investigate the allegations, investigators need to review documents as well as records about who managed access to such documents and who forwarded them to whom.

While several Cheong Wa Dae officials are believed to be involved in delivering the documents to Choi and other members of her secret advisory group, the prosecution has not seized any materials, such as computer logs, from them. These officials include senior presidential secretary for policy coordination Ahn Jong-beom, private presidential secretary Jeong Ho-seong and secretary for general affairs Lee Jae-man.

Cheong Wa Dae’s internal inspection may uncover the truth about the allegations. But the person who has the authority to launch the investigation is presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo, who is also under suspicion for many corruption allegations, making him unsuitable for carrying out the task.

The prosecution also does not have the authority to access Cheong Wa Dae’s internal administrative system.

Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), called for an immediate raid on Cheong Wa Dae.

“The prosecution should take action to stop evidence from being destroyed,” he said during a Supreme Council meeting, Friday. “Related figures are flatly denying allegations. I don’t understand why the investigation authorities are hesitating.”

Prosecutors are also unlikely to question President Park.

Earlier on Thursday, Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam ordered Lee Young-ryeol, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, to lead the special team to investigate the scandal.

Speaking to reporters right after the appointment, Lee made it clear that the President is not among those subject to the investigation, saying the President is exempted from criminal prosecution while in office according to the Constitution.