President's '7 missing hours' still shrouded in mystery

Cheong Wa Dae's explanation sparks greater controversy

By Kim Bo-eun

Controversy is escalating even further over the whereabouts of President Park Geun-hye at the time of the sinking of the Sewol ferry on April 16, 2014, even though Cheong Wa Dae issued a refutation regarding recent rumors.

The Park administration was denounced for its belated response to the disaster in which more than 300 passengers were killed, especially after suspicions arose that the President had been absent for seven crucial hours after the ferry started sinking.

This has led to rumors to the effect that Park was participating in a cult ritual, having an affair or undergoing plastic surgery.

Cheong Wa Dae, which has failed for over two years to provide a proper account of where the President had been during that time, posted an official explanation on its website Monday, with a timeline of the reports the President received and the calls she made that day.

According to the explanation, Park first received a written report about the accident at 10 a.m., about an hour after a passenger first reported the ship listing during an emergency call to 119 and about 30 minutes after the Korea Coast Guard launched its rescue operation.

After, she received more reports and ordered thorough rescue efforts several times up to 3 p.m. when she decided to visit the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

However, the explanation raised more questions about why the President did not convene any emergency meetings despite the gravity of the situation, and only communicated through written reports and calls, with no face-to-face meetings with secretaries or other officials.

Based on the timeline, the President did not issue any additional orders after 10:30 a.m. for four and a half hours, despite poor rescue efforts being conducted at the time.

"The President only received reports for over four hours," said Rep. Youn So-ha of the minor opposition Justice Party, Tuesday.

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"The President and Cheong Wa Dae must realize that untruthful explanations will only anger the people further."

In addition, the timeline shows the President ordered preparations for her visit to the disaster authority headquarters at 3 p.m. but she arrived there at 5:15 p.m., while the distance from Cheong Wa Dae to the headquarters was only a five-minute drive, raising suspicions that she had been elsewhere or had been preoccupied with other business.

"It has been revealed through reports and orders that the President did not assume her normal and official duties for seven hours," said the Coalition 4.16 on the Sewol Ferry Disaster, a civic group, in response to Cheong Wa Dae's post.

"What is yet to be revealed is where she was and what she was doing."

Cheong Wa Dae was also condemned for blaming incorrect media reports as the reason for its belated response. Local broadcasters had reported before noon that all of the passengers had been rescued. However, this was based on erroneous reports from the Korea Coast Guard and disaster authorities, affiliated with the government.

Cheong Wa Dae also said Park was not at the main office building but at her residence. "The President has offices in the main building, in her secretaries' building and at her residence. And on this day she was mainly at her office in her residence. The President does not follow a regular daily routine; she is on duty at all times."

But critics and officials who served previous presidents say the President's office at her residence is considered to be used before or after official hours of duty at the main building.

"Staying at the residence means she was not on duty," said Moon Jae-in, former head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea who served as former President Roh Moo-hyun's chief of staff.

The issue of the President's whereabouts resurfaced after the scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil erupted last month.

The most recent suspicion is that Park was undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure from a surgeon at a clinic frequented by Choi, which Cheong Wa Dae and the clinic have denied.

Earlier, another suspicion arose that Park was taking part in a rite marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Choi's father Choi Tae-min, who had been a mentor to Park.

An independent counsel investigating the Choi scandal, which will start in December, is expected to look into the suspicions surrounding the President's missing hours. The probe is possible because the bill concerning the independent counsel states it can investigate all matters related to suspicions of the scandal.