Park under interrogation over corruption scandal

Former President Park Geun-hye leaves her home in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, for questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. / Yonhap

• Published Mar 21, 2017 9:22 AM KST
• Updated Mar 21, 2017 9:22 AM KST

By Jung Min-ho

Former President Park Geun-hye apologized to the public Tuesday morning over a corruption scandal that led to her removal from office as she arrived at the prosecutors' office to be questioned over 13 suspicions linked to her.

“I’m sorry to the people,” stony-faced Park told reporters at the Seoul Prosecutors’ Office. “I will cooperate with the investigation.”

She remained silent over a barrage of questions from reporters. The questioning, which could continue past midnight, will take place in the presence of one or two of her lawyers.

Given that prosecutors have already collected “plenty of evidence” about her complicity in the scandal, they may detain her without a warrant before formally arresting her.

Prosecutors will likely make the decision late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning after a day-long interrogation.

Park will be questioned over allegations of bribery, abuse of power and leak of state secrets in 13 different cases involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Most notably and seriously, Park allegedly colluded with Choi in receiving 43.3 billion won ($39 million) from Samsung in return for supporting a merger of two Samsung units in 2015 -- a crucial decision for Samsung heir Lee Jae-young to tighten his control on the group’s management.