Investigations into 'Choi Soon-sil gate' widening

Yonsei University Professor Kim Hyung-su, in a wheelchair, is surrounded by reporters at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Sunday, before being questioned over the scandal-ridden Mir Foundation, of which he was the inaugural head. The foundation and K-Sports Foundation are allegedly linked to President Park Geun-hye's close aides. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

The prosecution summoned a former head of the Mir Foundation, Sunday, one of two foundations embroiled in a scandal centering on Choi Soon-sil, a close confidant of President Park Geun-hye.

With the summons, prosecutors are widening their investigation into allegations that Choi set up the foundations as fundraising vehicles for her personal benefit. Choi is the daughter of President Park's mentor Choi Tae-min and ex-wife of her former aide Chung Yoon-hoi.

The Mir and K-Sport foundations were established in October 2015 and January this year, respectively, under the name of globally promoting Korean culture and sports.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office called in Yonsei University professor Kim Hyung-su, the inaugural chairman of Mir Foundation, for questioning.

Kim is the former teacher of Cha Eun-taek, an advertising director who is known to be a key culture policy-making figure in the Park administration. Cha, also a friend of Choi, is suspected of having played a central role in the establishment and management of the Mir Foundation.

Kim is believed to have taken the foundation's chairman position due to his ties with Cha, which were built when he taught the latter at the university's Graduate School of Communication and Arts. As suspicions about the foundations grew, Kim quit his position in early September.

Prosecutors questioned Kim over Cha and Choi's involvement in the foundation's management.

They also summoned Kim Pil-seung, a director of the K-Sports Foundation, who allegedly played a key role in its establishment. An official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who was involved in approving the establishment of the two foundations, was also questioned.

The prosecution asked the ministry official about the suspicious approval of the two foundations which only took a single day, but usually takes at least several weeks.

It earlier summoned officials of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), the major business lobby, to question them over allegations that Cheong Wa Dae pressured large conglomerates to raise 80 billion won in funds to establish the foundations. It will also summon officials of the conglomerates to question them about Cheong Wa Dae's alleged involvement.

An Chong-bum, senior secretary for policy coordination to the president, has been accused of playing a key role in pressuring the FKI. An insisted the funds were voluntary donations from the conglomerates.

President Park has denied any involvement in the scandal-ridden foundations.

Choi established two companies in Germany ― The Blue K and Widec Sports ― which state they train athletes and engage in sports exchange. Choi and her daughter are the owners of Widec Sports. Choi is suspected of having received funds from the K-Sports Foundation under the pretext of training athletes while using them for the training expenses for her daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, who is a dressage competitor, seeking a place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Choi and her daughter are known to be have left the country.

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