President rejects investigation

Cheong Wa Dae disputed, Sunday, the prosecution’s interim investigation results identifying President Park Geun-hye as an accomplice in the corruption scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

The presidential office claimed the results are based on “imagination and speculation.” It also retracted previous statements, now saying it will refuse the prosecution’s request to question Park.

It went even further, saying the President is willing to face impeachment rather than come under a “biased political attack.”

“We cannot trust the prosecution’s objectivity and fairness, so we will never respond to its request to conduct in-person questioning,” Yoo Yeong-ha, Park’s lawyer, told reporters. “Rather, we will prepare for the planned impartial independent counsel.”

After the prosecution announced that Park had colluded with Choi and former presidential secretaries An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong in “considerable parts” of their alleged criminal acts, presidential spokesperson Jung Youn-kuk said, “It is deeply regrettable that the prosecution argued as if Park has committed serious crimes in its findings.”

Stating his refusal to cooperate with the ongoing prosecutorial investigation, Jung said the presidential office would rather face impeachment proceedings.

“If the unfair political offensive continues based on biased arguments by the investigation team, state affairs will be thrown further into confusion,” he said. “We hope we can end the controversy by going through a Constitutional process.”

Jung further criticized the prosecution for rushing its probe and depriving the President of an opportunity to explain her position ― even though Park had expressed her intention to face investigation.

Prosecutors initially sought to question the President last week ahead of Choi’s indictment, Sunday, but Cheong Wa Dae insisted on postponing until this week to give Park time to prepare her defense. This led to suspicions Cheong Wa Dae was using delay tactics to weaken the investigation.

Park also faces an independent counsel investigation next month. The National Assembly passed a bill last Tuesday for the formation of the independent counsel, separate from the ongoing prosecution investigation.

The presidential office had been paying attention to the announcement of the prosecution’s interim investigation results as well as an anti-Park candlelit rally, Saturday.

President Park watched the news on TV from her official residence and was briefed by her aides over potential follow-up measures, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Han Gwang-ok, the presidential chief of staff, has held meetings with senior presidential secretaries to discuss what the presidential response should be.

Cheong Wa Dae has made no changes in its stance that Park had only received Choi’s advice on her presidential speeches and was involved in projects conducted by the Mir and K-Sports foundations but only within the extent of managing state affairs.

The prosecution indicted Choi, Park’s longtime friend, earlier in the day, on charges including abuse of authority, coercion and attempted fraud. Choi had allegedly meddled in state affairs while accessing classified information and coerced corporate donations in the launch of the two non-profit foundations she controlled.

Cheong Wa Dae remains adamant in its stance that Park should get her official duties back on track. She plans to attend a summit with her Chinese and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo next month and preside over a Cabinet meeting next week.

But the opposition’s strong backlash is speculated to put the brakes on her plans. Opposition heavyweights including potential presidential candidates called on the National Assembly to discuss Park’s impeachment following the prosecution’s announcement.

Meanwhile, the ruling Saenuri Party downplayed the meaning of the interim investigation results, stressing it is not a foregone conclusion.

“Park has yet to be investigated by the prosecution so it’s too early to conclude,” said Yeom Dong-yeol, a Saenuri chief spokesperson. “We expect the upcoming investigation and envisioned independent counsel will clarify the truth.”

Party’s Chairman Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, a staunch ally to Park, defended the President, saying, “I have confidence in her that she is not a person who seeks her own personal interest.” (Kim Hyo-jin, The Korea Times)