Park risks probe over political scandal, PM nominee warns

[chahlley]

(Asia Today Friday 4 November 2016)

Park risks probe over political scandal, PM nominee warns

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Published: 4:00 AM, November 4, 2016

SEOUL — A snowballing political scandal moved closer to embattled South Korean President Park Geun-hye yesterday, with her newly nominated Prime Minister warning she could face a probe, hours after prosecutors announced they had detained a former presidential aide.

“Everyone including the President is equal before the law,” new premier nominee Mr Kim Byong-joon said at a press conference yesterday.            

“My position is an investigation is possible. But since (she) is the head of state, its process and method requires circumspection.”

Under South Korea’s Constitution, the incumbent President may not be charged with a criminal offence except for insurrection or treason. But many argue the sitting President can be investigated by prosecutors and then charged after leaving office.

Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong also told parliament yesterday that prosecutors could question Ms Park, if the ongoing investigation required it.

South Korean prosecutors also announced yesterday they had detained Ms Park’s former aide Ahn Jong-beom over suspicions that he helped Ms Park’s friend Choi Soon-sil coerce companies into donating large sums to dubious non-profit foundations that she then used for personal gains.

Mr Ahn, who was dismissed on Sunday, is the second person to be taken into emergency detention after Ms Choi was held Monday for questioning in the influence-peddling scandal.

Mr Ahn had earlier told reporters outside prosecution offices that he would take responsibility for his actions but declined to elaborate.

Ms Park is scrambling to deflect rising public anger over suggestions that Ms Choi — the daughter of a shadowy religious figure — vetted presidential speeches, had access to classified documents, and used her influence for personal enrichment.

The scandal has shaken the presidency, exposing Ms Park to public outrage and ridicule and, with just over a year left in office, seen her approval ratings plunge into an all-time low.

Ms Park, 64, has also faced calls from political opponents and a growing number of South Koreans to step down, although the main opposition parties have not raised the idea of launching impeachment proceedings.

Despite numerous scandals over the years, no South Korean President has ever resigned or been successfully impeached.

Ms Park had on Wednesday replaced her Prime Minister with Mr Kim, a reshuffle denounced by political opponents as a bid to divert attention from the crisis.

She announced yesterday her pick for chief of staff, Han Gwang-ok, a former aide to late President Kim Dae-jung in an appointment the presidential Blue House said would help get the rattled administration back on track.

But the opposition has dismissed the reshuffle as a smokescreen. They have called for a full investigation of Ms Park’s relationship with Ms Choi, vowing to block the new Prime Minister’s nomination by wielding their combined parliamentary majority. AGENCIES