Ex-President's trial boycott draws ire

By Kim Hyo-jin

Park Geun-hye

Former President Park Geun-hye has come under harsh criticism Tuesday for indicating she would boycott her bribery and corruption trial, dismissing it as political revenge.

With the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) silent about her comment, liberal parties came together to denounce her, saying she is denying the judicial process and evading legal responsibility for disruption of state management caused by the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Meanwhile, the LKP is taking steps to expel her from the party. It plans to hold an ethics committee meeting today to decide on disciplinary measures for the ousted president. The party has already relayed its position to Park that it hopes she leaves voluntarily, according to officials.

Park claimed her treatment was politically motivated, during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Monday, after the court last week extended her detention for an extra six months.

In an outburst criticizing the court that issued the new arrest warrant, Park said she had lost faith that the court would do a fair job in accordance with the Constitution and conscience, free from political influence and public pressure.

“I will just leave the remaining trial in the hands of the justices,” Park said after her lawyers resigned en masse to protest the court decision, alluding to her possible absence from future hearings.

This brought a backlash from liberal parties. “It’s an outright denial of the judiciary. It’s not an attitude a former president is supposed to take,” ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Rep. Woo Won-shik said.

“She is involved in a legal process sparked by the worst-ever corruption scandal in which state management was severely disrupted, not political retaliation.”

The minor opposition People’s Party and Justice Party chimed in, calling her “shameless.”

“It’s deplorable she made sophistry speaking publicly for the first time since her trial began six months ago,” said Rep. Kim Dong-cheol, floor leader of the People’s Party. “It’s not too late yet. Confessing and unveiling the truth is the only way she can apologize to the public.”

“Park is in a state of denying reality. She is attempting to draw political support by posing herself as a victim,” Justice Party Chairwoman Rep. Lee Jeong-mi said.

“She should know that a legal process against a criminal who drove many people to death and embezzled the people’s money is a show of patience by citizens living in a democratic society.”

Meanwhile, attention is on a meeting of the LKP committee slated for today. It is likely to decide to ask Park to leave the party voluntarily as recommended last month by its reform panel. If Park rejects the request, it can expel her within 10 days under LKP membership rules.

The party said it had already delivered its position to Park through multiple channels. Park’s response remains unknown but some expect her to turn the request down, considering her stance shown Monday.