Choi Soon-sil tells court President Moon must 'uncover the truth'

Choi Soon-sil is escorted in Seoul Central District Court, Seocho-gu, on May 15 for questioning about an alleged bribe from Samsung. / Yonhap

By Ko Dong-hwan

Impeached Korean President Park Geun-hye’s confidant Choi Soon-sil, now standing trial, demanded on Tuesday that President Moon Jae-in’s administration “uncover the truth.”

In Seoul Central District Court, where she faces charges of accepting a corporate bribe and abusing her relationship with Park, Choi said she was innocent and that prosecutors’ investigations were “unfair.”

“The new president of the nation established on justice and democracy must not condone publicizing rumor-based investigation reports,” said Choi, 61.

“I cannot live in this country if the investigators keep tarnishing my name unfairly.”

Choi is at the center of the presidential corruption scandal that swept the nation last October arousing nationwide protests that led to Park’s impeachment.

The court is dealing with allegations that she accepted some 43 billion won ($38.5 million) from Korean giant conglomerate Samsung as a bribe to fund her daughter’s dressage training in Germany.

Choi denies the allegation, disputing the Independent Counsel’s conclusion that she controlled Samsung for her daughter.

She said the counsel “never checked factual proof but only relied on witnesses.”

She also defended Park, whose trial is scheduled to start on May 23. Choi said she still respected Park, who was “not a person to amass personal benefits” and that prosecutors had “exaggerated” charges against Park.

The counsel said the charges against Park had been based not only on witnesses but also objective evidence.