South Korean President Retreats, Resists Scandal Investigation

Brian Padden November 17, 2016

South Korea President Park Geun-hye may have been found guilty in the court of public opinion for her alleged involvement in an influence peddling scandal, but the legal case against her is progressing slowly.

Park this week appointed attorney Yoo Yeong-ha, who immediately sought to delay prosecution plans to question her this week, saying he needed time to prepare, and suggested that the president might insist that the questions be submitted and replied to in writing, rather than meet face to face with investigators.

"A probe into the president should be carried out in a way that minimizes the burden of her duties, which I believe is in the spirit of the constitution," he said.

Second investigation

On Thursday the National Assembly passed a measure appointing an independent special counsel to conduct a separate probe alongside the investigation currently being conducted by prosecutors in the Ministry of Justice.

Opposition leaders have voiced concerns that the Ministry of Justice working under the executive branch has too many ties to the president to conduct a credible investigation on its own.

"President Park is a person with authority over personnel. There is a limit to the investigation of the prosecution. As a result, in order to investigate President Park, a special probe must be conducted," said Kim Jun-seok, a political science professor with Dongguk University in Seoul.

Delay tactics

The South Korean president seems intent on completing her single, five-year term of office that ends next year, despite weeks of massive public protests, increasing calls in the National Assembly for her to resign or be impeached, and with her approval rating hovering between 5 and 10 percent.

The opposition parties that hold a majority in the National Assembly say Park's delay tactics are only delaying the inevitable.

"The pro-Park lawmakers of the Saenuri Party are opposing the public outcry for resignation, buying time to work their way out of the current difficulties," said Park Jie-won, floor leader of the People Party, the second largest party in the opposition coalition.

Park also agreed to cooperate with the criminal probe looking into possible fraud and embezzlement involving the president's long-time friend Choi Soon-sil.