President Park Geun-hye on Monday apologized for the document leak scandal and reiterated her administration’s economic drive and the need for reunification of the Korean Peninsula. 

Saying that the country was shaken by social issues in the past year, Park pledged that her administration would develop measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.

"My heart is heavy and (I am) sorry for the people who are feeling despondent because of the document scandal,” Park said.

She said it was unforgivable for high-level officials to seek personal gain, adding that she would reinforce discipline within the civil service.

The scandal centered on allegations that Park’s former aide Chung Yoon-hoi was meddling in state affairs including the president’s personnel decisions. The prosecution has since determined that the allegations were false, and that the Cheong Wa Dae intelligence reports regarding them were fabricated by police Superintendent Park Gwan-cheon and leaked to the media by two police inspectors.

Regarding the calls for her to replace key aides including Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon and those implicated in the allegations surrounding Chung Yoon-hoi, Park indicated that such changes will not be made in the near future.

“(Kim) is very rare in having no ulterior motives, and because of this he helped (me) despite the difficulties in family life and when he has no need to cling to his post,” Park said. She also said there was no reason to dismiss the senior secretaries implicated in the document leak scandal as they were proven innocent.

For much of her address, Park focused on the economy, highlighting her administration’s three-year economic plan.

In the address Park used the word “economy” on 42 occasions to stress that South Korea is now faced with a “golden opportunity” to revive the economy and achieve “national innovation.”

As part of the plans, Park said that the government would address wrong practices and collusion within the public and private sectors to strengthen the foundations of South Korea’s economy.

As for paroling imprisoned business leaders, Park avoided a direct answer and reiterated her previous position.

“Businesspeople receiving special treatment is not right, but nor should they be treated with prejudice. (The issue) should be decided by the Ministry of Justice after taking into account public sentiment and fairness,” she said.

The president also stressed the need to reform the pension system in the public sector, a task Cheong Wa Dae had hoped to carry out by the end of last year.

Park said the system would require about 10 trillion won ($9.2 billion) in government subsidies over 10 years, and called on the parties to draw up reform plans by April -- a deadline proposed by chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung of the ruling Saenuri Party.

The president also said the plans to halve university tuition fees would be completed within the year.

As for the free-trade pacts, the government would come up with follow-up measures to maximize benefits for local industries, she said.

Regarding inter-Korean relations, Park urged North Korea to respond to Seoul’s calls for dialogue and suggested holding a round of family reunions on Lunar New Year’s Day.

Seoul and Pyongyang must plan various events together to mark the 70th anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule, she said.

“An inter-Korean summit can be held if it will help (inter-Korean relations). There are no preconditions,” she said.

However, Park said North Korea must show sincerity and that peaceful reunification cannot be discussed without Pyongyang’s denuclearization.

“I think that an open mind and sincere stance are essential to solving problems through dialogue. For example, peaceful reunification cannot be discussed without things like denuclearization, although this is not a precondition. (I am of) the position that this matter must be resolved through processes such as multilateral talks.”


By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)