Will Park face criminal investigation?
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea holds a rally in front of the National Assembly, Tuesday, to call for an investigation into President Park Geun-hye over the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil. / Yonhap
By Kim Hyo-jin
The opposition parties called for a criminal investigation into President Park Geun-hye, Tuesday, over an ever expanding scandal involving her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil.
However, the prosecution and Cheong Wa Dae reacted negatively, saying there was no precedent for the investigation of an incumbent head of state on any allegations.
The opposition claims the ongoing prosecutorial probe of Choi and her aides should be extended to the President to get to the bottom of the scandal.
Choi, who allegedly meddled in state affairs despite having no official government position, has been questioned by the prosecution since Monday. Prosecutors will seek a detention warrant today.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called Park a “key figure” in the scandal.
“We urge the prosecution to take all suspects related to the scandal into custody and question them thoroughly. Park cannot be an exception,” DPK Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae said at a party meeting.
Rep. Park Jie-won, the interim leader of the minor opposition People’s Party, also called for an extended probe into the President.
“A personnel or Cabinet reshuffle will not ease the public anger. The only way to alleviate such sentiment is if Park steps forward saying she is willing to be subject to a prosecutorial investigation and its results,” Rep. Park said.
Their demands come as local media outlets are raising seemingly endless allegations against Choi.
The Hankyoreh, a major progressive newspaper, reported Tuesday that Choi had often visited Cheong Wa Dae since the early stages of Park’s presidential term until recently, in a car driven by a presidential aide. She used a gate only allowed for ministers and above, without showing a pass, the newspaper said.
The Donga Ilbo stated Monday that Ko Young-tae, Choi’s close friend, told the prosecution that Choi often talked about the operations of the Mir and K-sports foundations with the President.
Choi allegedly leveraged her relationship with Park in raising 80 billion won ($70 million) from conglomerates for launching the foundations, and misappropriated the money while operating them.
DPK spokeswoman Rep. Park Kyung-mee mentioned that recent news reports are evidence showing that Park has been more involved with Choi than simply getting presidential speeches edited by her.
“No one would accept the result of the investigation without questioning Park,” she said in a press briefing.
At the start of the allegations over Choi’s meddling in state affairs, Park admitted that she sought advice on presidential speeches in the early days of her presidency only until a formal system of advisors was in place.
Additional news reports, however, raised further allegations that Choi had access to government documents on diplomatic and unification policies, and engaged in a wide range of matters varying from Park’s wardrobe to the selection of her secretaries.
Amid the public outcry, Moon Jae-in, a former leader of the main opposition party and a presidential hopeful, insisted Monday that Park should hand over authority in managing state affairs to a new prime minister appointed by the National Assembly.
His remarks came as the ruling Saenuri Party is seeking the opposition’s cooperation in forming a bipartisan Cabinet as part of efforts to deal with the fallout from the scandal.
Moon said in a Facebook post that a transfer of Park’s authority to a new Prime Minister should be a prerequisite to launching a bipartisan Cabinet.
The minor opposition People’s Party, however, opposed the idea, expressing concerns about the potential disruption in overall state affairs.