Former top presidential aide's home raided
Investigators load boxes of evidence they secured during their raid of the home of former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon in central Seoul into their cars, Monday, in their investigation into the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil. / Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon
Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun
Members of the special prosecutor’s team raided the homes of former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun, Monday, as part of their investigation into the presidential scandal.
They also raided 10 other places including ministry offices as part of the probe into the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.
The former top presidential secretary is suspected of abusing his power to help and protect Choi, who allegedly meddled in critical state affairs to benefit herself and her cronies, according to Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman for the independent counsel’s investigation team. Kim served as presidential chief of staff from 2013 to 2015.
Former Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong accused Kim of pressuring then Vice Culture Minister Kim Hee-bum to strip six high-ranking officials of their posts in 2014 because their political views were “incompatible with the Park administration.” Three of them ended up leaving the ministry.
It is unclear in what areas their views were “incompatible” with the government. But many suspect the officials were opposed to setting up the Mir and K-Sports foundations, which were later found to be under Choi’s control.
Cho, who served as senior presidential secretary for state affairs at that time, may also have played a role in the process.
The team did not specify the allegations they were looking into; but the spokesman said Kim and Cho are suspected of the same crime.
The crime might be creating a blacklist of more than 9,000 artists who are critical of the current government. Twelve culture and art organizations have already filed complaints with the special prosecutor against Kim and Cho over the alleged list.
The suspicion has been growing with testimony from an increasing number of artists and government officials, including Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun. Last month, the mayor said he was pressured by Kim Chong, a former vice culture minister who is close to Choi, to reject a satirical painting of President Park for the 2014 Gwangju Biennale.
Kim Chong, who played a role as “troubleshooter” for Choi and her daughter Chung Yoo-ra, has already been indicted on charges of abuse of power, coercion and mishandling state information.
However, although suspicions are rife over Choi’s connection with Kim Ki-choon and Cho, who played key roles in the Park government, no solid evidence has been found.
The team has been investigating Kim Chong over additional accusations, including colluding with Kim Ki-choon to give his crony the vice chairman post on the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Winter Games.
During a recent interview with the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, Park Heon-young, a former staffer at the K-Sports Foundation, said Kim Ki-choon and Choi knew each other, although how close they were is less certain.
Kim’s relationship with the President’s family dates back a few decades. When her father Park Chung-hee was in power, the former prosecutor participated in drafting the 1972 Yushin Constitution that granted dictatorial powers to him.
Little is known about Cho’s relationship with Choi. Rep. Chang Je-won of the ruling Saenuri Party accused her of using the same massage parlor in southern Seoul as Choi last month, citing a police source. But she strongly denied the allegation.