President calls for ‘probe without sanctuary’
The list of politicians left by a deceased businessman and his 50-minute phone interview with a local daily is expected to deal a severe blow to President Park Geun-hye, bringing her ethicality and integrity ― her biggest political assets ― into question.
The memo, written by late Keangnam chairman Sung Woan-jong, appears to directly target her administration as it implicates her closest aides, including the current prime minister and her chief of staff, as recipients of illicit political funds he delivered. Authorities launched a special investigation team Sunday to probe the bribery allegations into the political heavyweights, most of whom are regarded as pro-Park figures.
Later in the afternoon, the president, in a statement released by her spokesperson, urged the prosecution to “sternly deal with the case without sanctuary in accordance with the rule of law and principle.”
Observers say the investigation into the memo, as well as the full script of the phone interview still unreleased by the Kyunghyang Shinmun, will likely have massive political repercussions and could possibly tarnish Park’s image as a clean leader.
This image is a strong weapon that has given her an implicit political cause to drive massive reform efforts so far. The president has been pushing ahead with overhauling four sectors ― labor, education, public offices and finance ― by calling them “a must” for the country’s economic revitalization.
However, the scandal could hold back Park’s reform drive as it centers on her long-time political aides ― those who played pivotal roles in elections that Park ran before becoming the president.
According to the newspaper, Sung said he gave about $100,000 to Kim Ki-choon in 2006 and 700 million ($640,000) to Huh Tae-yeol in 2007, when Park ran in the presidential primary held by the Grand National Party, the predecessor of the ruling Saenuri Party. Both Kim and Huh served as chiefs of staff for the Park administration. The memo also includes the incumbent chief of staff Lee Byung-kee. All of the officials have denied the allegations.
Some also suggest that the scandal could put her into early lameduck status, as the attention could shift to the general election to be held next year and also the presidential election in the following year.
The scandal comes at a time when Park is looking to stabilize her leadership and draw attention to her sales diplomacy to Latin America. She will tour Brazil and three other South American countries from Thursday for 12 days.
Political pundits say the possibility is high for Park to speak out on the bribery scandal to quell angry sentiments before she leaves for Latin America. She could urge the prosecution for a thorough investigation, while stressing that she has remained clean from corruption and bribery attempts.
Since last year, Park has been struggling to restore public confidence over criticism about her government’s botched rescue missions as well as her response, which was seen as lacking sincerity.
A series of political scandals involving conflicting groups of aides, as well as the government’s inconsistent policies on tax and health insurance, have also damaged her credibility.
Presidential documents were leaked to the media late last year raising speculation over lax discipline within Cheong Wa Dae. Park also came under fire after she refused to abandon her aides who were involved in a related influence-peddling scandal. Her popularity plummeted to below 30 percent early this year.
Her approval rating bounced back to the 40 percent mark in the first week of April as she tried to break away from her image as an uncommunicative leader by appearing at a series of public events in recent months.
By Cho Chung-un ()
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
