| Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam enters the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Wednesday. While President Park Geun-hye requested a delay in questioning her over her alleged links to the corruption scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil, the prosecution insisted this should be done by Friday, saying it had already secured enough evidence to show Park's involvement. / Yonhap |
Their decision comes a day after Yoo Yeong-ha, who was appointed to represent the President, said he would need more time to fully grasp the situation as her legal representative.
“That means even Thursday can be difficult,” said Lee Young-ryeol, head of the prosecution's special investigation team into the scandal involving Park's confidant, Choi Soon-sil. “This is giving the President way too much of a favor. We can't just wait forever. Friday will be our deadline, and we will let the President know that.”
Initially, the prosecution planned to complete the questioning by Wednesday.
While Park's lawyer requested a written questionnaire, the prosecution made it clear that it would insist on a face-to-face interview. Where to question her has yet to be decided.
Prosecutors said they have already obtained enough evidence to show Park's involvement in Choi's alleged meddling in state affairs to the benefit of her and her associates through two foundations she controlled.
They said notes seized from An Chong-bum, a former presidential secretary for policy coordination, showed that Park ordered him to raise funds from conglomerates for the foundations.
The prosecution recently questioned Kim Chong, former vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, over his role in the scandal.
Arriving at the prosecutors' office, the former vice minister said, “I will faithfully answer the questions,” without answering other queries from journalists.
A key allegation against Kim, who served between October 2013 and the end of last month, is that he abused his power in ministry policy decisions in favor of Choi and her associates. He stepped down Oct. 30 as the allegations grew.
The prosecution suspects Kim helped the K-Sports Foundation, controlled by Choi, and The Blue K, a firm set up by her, to win government projects among other business favors.
The former Hangyang University professor allegedly asked Choi to help his friends and associates get high-profile positions with government agencies. The prosecution obtained copies of Kim's emails to Choi recommending his associates for these positions.
Kim also faces allegations that he assisted Choi's daughter Chung Yoo-ra, a dressage competitor, in her selection as a national team member for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
In addition Kim is accused of helping Choi's niece, Jang Si-ho, set up the Korea Winter Sports Elite Center in June 2015. The center received 670 million won ($587,335) from the ministry, unusually large financial support for a new organization. The prosecution suspects Kim's influence made that possible. Samsung donated 1.6 billion won ($ 1.35 million) to the center, and Kim faces allegations of extorting the money from the company.
Prosecutors also questioned him over Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun's claim that the vice minister pressured him to ban an anti-President art work from being exhibited at the 2014 Gwangju Biennale.
Besides the vice minister, former Minister Kim Jong-deok is also suspected of having been close to Choi who allegedly attempted to peddle influence in policies on culture and sports to benefit her companies. The former minister was a professor of Cha Eun-taek, a visual arts director who is one of Choi's close associates. Cha was also given top positions in state-run projects during the minister and vice minister's terms.
Prosecutors said they may detain the former vice minister because of the possibility that he will flee or destroy evidence.