By Lee Han-soo
Is Choi Soon-sil really the woman behind the curtain?
A newspaper suggests we have gone after a wrong person. The real string-puller is Choi's elder sister, Choi Soon-deuk, according to Chosun Ilbo, Korea's largest newspaper, which has given extensive coverage of the Choi Soon-sil scandal.
The daily raised the claim based on an interview with an acquaintance of the Choi sisters.
"If Choi Soon-deuk gave an order, Choi Soon-sil would act accordingly," the acquaintance was quoted as saying in an article headlined, "Choi Soon-sil is a field manger, real big shot is her elder sister."
"One day Choi Soon-deuk spoke about replacing a director at a TV station and employing a producer at another network and afterwards Choi Soon-sil went out for a long time after making a call."
Soon-deuk, 64, is reportedly a high school alumnus of President Park Guen-hye.
The senior Choi reportedly boasted that Park was staying at her house after she was attacked with a knife during a street campaign in 2006 when Park was leader of the Grand National Party (predecessor to the ruling Saenuri Party).
Soon-deuk's daughter, Jang Yoo-jin, is suspected of allegedly receiving 670 million won ($584,000) from the government while secretary general for the Korea Winter Sports Elite Center.
The center's role overlaps with the Korea Skating Union and the Korea Ski Association, but has done little with the budget, according to the daily.
Soon-deuk has reportedly been in seclusion at a luxury mansion in southern Seoul since the influence-peddling surfaced last month.
The daily said Soon-deuk's health had deteriorated over a few years and that she did not travel outside often.
Is Choi Soon-sil really the woman behind the curtain?
A newspaper suggests we have gone after a wrong person. The real string-puller is Choi's elder sister, Choi Soon-deuk, according to Chosun Ilbo, Korea's largest newspaper, which has given extensive coverage of the Choi Soon-sil scandal.
The daily raised the claim based on an interview with an acquaintance of the Choi sisters.
"If Choi Soon-deuk gave an order, Choi Soon-sil would act accordingly," the acquaintance was quoted as saying in an article headlined, "Choi Soon-sil is a field manger, real big shot is her elder sister."
"One day Choi Soon-deuk spoke about replacing a director at a TV station and employing a producer at another network and afterwards Choi Soon-sil went out for a long time after making a call."
Soon-deuk, 64, is reportedly a high school alumnus of President Park Guen-hye.
The senior Choi reportedly boasted that Park was staying at her house after she was attacked with a knife during a street campaign in 2006 when Park was leader of the Grand National Party (predecessor to the ruling Saenuri Party).
Soon-deuk's daughter, Jang Yoo-jin, is suspected of allegedly receiving 670 million won ($584,000) from the government while secretary general for the Korea Winter Sports Elite Center.
The center's role overlaps with the Korea Skating Union and the Korea Ski Association, but has done little with the budget, according to the daily.
Soon-deuk has reportedly been in seclusion at a luxury mansion in southern Seoul since the influence-peddling surfaced last month.
The daily said Soon-deuk's health had deteriorated over a few years and that she did not travel outside often.
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