Cheong Wa Dae obstructs parliamentary probe of Park Geun-hye scandal

By Kim Hyo-jin

Cheong Wa Dae has rejected a request from a National Assembly panel to visit the presidential office, Friday, as part of its investigation into what President Park Geun-hye was doing while the ferry Sewol was sinking on April 16, 2014.

“Cheong Wa Dae is designated as a special district protected for national security,” the presidential security team wrote in a memo submitted to the Assembly, Thursday.

“There is no precedent of allowing on-the-spot inspections or search and seizure. If allowed, internal classified information including its security systems will inevitably be made public.”

This was seen as Cheong Wa Dae blocking the parliamentary probe.

The Assembly thinks an on-the-spot inspection could give some clues to Park’s mysterious whereabouts for seven hours on the day of the sinking of the ferry, and about the frequent access of Park’s unofficial aides including Choi Soon-sil.

Cheong Wa Dae has been evasive since Park’s impeachment by the National Assembly.

In the third parliamentary hearing, Wednesday, Cheong Wa Dae staff members ― Lee Young-sun and Yoon Jeon-chu ― who were on the list of witnesses did not appear. When parliamentary officials visited Cheong Wa Dae to summon the officials later in the day, they were told that the two were taking vacations. Lee and Yoon have been named as key witnesses who can explain Park’s missing seven hours.

“It is viewed that the presidential office intentionally and systemically avoided making them available for questioning,” Rep. Kim Sung-tae, the head of the parliamentary special panel, said. “They are ridiculing the public.”

For the past three hearings, Kim Ki-choon, ex-presidential chief of staff, was the only former Cheong Wa Dae official who appeared.

The National Assembly passed a motion in mid-November to set up a special panel to probe the corruption scandal involving Park and her confidant Choi. The panel, consisting of 18 ruling and opposition lawmakers, started their investigation, which will last for two months, Dec. 5. The period can be extended once for an additional month.