By Kim Se-jeong
This week’s hearings in former President Park Geun-hye’s trial for corruption and abuse of power is expected to involve owners of big Korean companies testifying against her.
Park is on trial for 20 charges, including pressuring conglomerates to make “donations” to the Mir and K-Sports foundations controlled by her confidant Choi Soon-sil. In return, Park allegedly offered business favors to the companies.
Among the charges, two were added only last week. The prosecution alleged Park received bribes from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), estimated at 3.65 billion won ($3.43), and used it to pay for her medical treatment and to give bonuses to her close aides in Cheong Wa Dae.
Those called in for a hearing Thursday are Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon, LG Group Chairman Ku Bon-moo, GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo and Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho.
However, Cho submitted a letter stating that he could not attend as will be on an overseas business trip.
All the chairmen gave money to the two foundations, and the prosecution is likely to ask them whether they were made under pressure from Park.
Sohn Kyung-shik, the co-chairman of CJ Group is expected to testify today about Park’s influence in limiting CJ’s film production.
According to the prosecution, Park stated that CJ Films was left-leaning during a private meeting with Sohn in 2014, and pressured him to take actions to stop this. In response, Sohn allegedly apologized and promised to make changes to please her, the prosecution said.
Also due today is former senior presidential secretary for economic affairs Cho Won-dong who is suspected of enforcing Park’s suppression of CJ Group.
Cho is also facing the first hearing today in his trial for abuse of power. The prosecution argues that Cho ordered Sohn to remove Lee Mi-kyung, who was head of CJ Films at the time, from her post. Lee didn’t “resign” but abruptly left the country in September 2014. Cho admitted that Park told him to pressure the group, but denied he pushed Sohn to remove Lee.
Park has been tried in absentia since late November. In October, her team of legal representatives resigned to protest a court decision to extend her detention for another six months. Currently, court-appointed lawyers are representing her but she refuses to meet with them.
To deal with the additional charges brought last week Park hired Yoo Young-ha, Saturday, who had defended her until last October.