By Jun Ji-hye
The Choi Soon-sil scandal is stoking concerns that it may derail the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery here and other key security and diplomatic policies led by the Park Geun-hye administration.
Washington and Tokyo appear to have paid keen attention to mounting anger among South Koreans over the scandal with some even calling for Park to be impeached, apparently mindful that if the Park administration were to be put into a vegetative state, ongoing diplomatic talks could be suspended.
Citing allegations that Choi, Park’s long-time confidant with no official standing, had access to classified material related to national security and foreign affairs and has intervened in Park’s management of state affairs, experts say the people seem to have lost trust in Park, which could considerably dilute her power as a top decision maker.
Pending issues in progress between Seoul and Washington include the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula.
The issue has been much debated since the two nations announced in July that the advanced anti-missile system will be deployed in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, by the end of next year, to better deter North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats.
Many opposition lawmakers have called into question the government’s bungled management of the deployment decision-making process as well as its official announcement, which caused severe criticism from local residents living in the area selected as the location for THAAD.
Bae Jong-chan, the chief director of political pollster Research and Research, said one of the most important aspects in the government’s negotiations with other countries is the people’s support, which Park has lost recently.
“A number of people now think that the government’s negotiations have been led not by the President’s principle, but by personal opinions of her unofficial confidant,” he said. “Now, people are even making a caricature of Park. This would exert influence on the THAAD deployment, given that the decision on the location was not made smoothly.”
With Japan, the government is currently working on follow-up measures to implement a landmark accord reached Dec. 28 on resolving the issue of Japan’s sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II.
The government set up a foundation in July with its main focus being placed on healing the scars and recovering the dignity of the victims, and the Japanese government transferred 1 billion yen ($9.5 million) to the foundation the following month.
But the negative publicity over the deal is still abounding as some surviving victims and civic groups have risen up in protest, accusing the government of failing to obtain Japan’s acknowledgment of its legal responsibility and rashly reaching the deal without consulting them. The victims said they do not want to receive the money from Japan unless the country acknowledges its legal responsibility and offers a sincere apology.
Adding fuel to controversy was the revelation that in January 2013 ― when Park was president-elect ― Choi received a document created ahead of Park’s meeting with a special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The document included content about how Park should deal with the comfort women issue, according to local broadcaster JTBC.
Japan-based broadcaster NHK also reported details of JTBC’s revelation, while Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun even raised suspicion that Choi might have intervened in the Dec. 28 deal.
Foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck denied the allegation, saying that the document was not created by the ministry.
But Bae said there seems to be no hope for future negotiations with Japan in the remainder of Park’s term.
“It is inevitable that the functions of the foundation would be paralyzed,” he said.
He said the possible suspension of ongoing talks with allies could also result in aggravation in relations with them.
Choi, the daughter of the President’s late mentor, Choi Tae-min, first met Park in the 1970s when she was acting as first lady. Since then, Choi apparently has played the roles of companion as well as personal secretary for Park.
On Tuesday, President Park made a public apology, admitting that Choi reviewed her speeches ahead of their delivery dates, which critics argue violates the law governing the security of confidential presidential records.
But Park has yet to respond to other allegations.