Park requests special counsel candidates

By Yi Whan-woo

President Park Geun-hye approved a document to formally request the opposition parties recommend candidates for an independent counsel to investigate the corruption scandal surrounding her and her confidant Choi Soon-sil, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.

The approval comes amid growing public demands for Park to appoint a special investigator to look into her alleged link to Choi’s meddling in state affairs to make illicit gains.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and minor opposition People’s Party will recommend two candidates for the independent counsel position within five days after the President’s formal request.

Under the law concerning special investigations, Park must pick and name one of the candidates as the independent counsel no later than three days after the opposition bloc makes its final decision.

The independent counsel will be given 20 days to prepare for the probe. The investigation can last up to 70 days from its start date and can be extended for another 30 days only if the President approves.

The independent counsel will lead a team of 105 investigators, including four assistant counsels and 40 prosecutors temporarily assigned to support him or her exclusively.

The Cabinet endorsed the appointment of the independent counsel at a meeting, Tuesday, after the opposition-led National Assembly passed a bill calling for a special investigation into the scandal in addition to the prosecution’s probe.

Park has been refusing to cooperate with the prosecution after it identified her as “a criminal suspect” and asked her to show up for face-to-face questioning by Nov. 29.