South Korea President Avoids Testifying

(ATR) Suspended South Korea president Geun Hye Park refused to testify in the ongoing trial against her.

Park was impeached by the South Korean parliament last month for her role in an ongoing influence peddling scandal. Park is charged with colluding with confidant Soon Sil Choi, the daughter of a shamanic figure in Korea, to extort money from South Korean companies. Choi is reported to have helped edit Park’s speeches, received access to classified information, and advised her on her many roles as President.

In addition, Choi is being investigated for possible monetary benefits she received from Korea’s largest companies.

After her impeachment, Park was suspended as president of South Korea for 180 days. The trial against her will determine if Park can return to her role as President or if she will be removed permanently from office. If she is removed, elections will happen within 60 days, meaning a new leader could open the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Park’s trial is being heard by South Korea’s Constitutional Court. Park was scheduled to testify in court on Dec. 29 but failed to appear, delaying the start of oral arguments in the case. According to South Korea media reports, Park will be called to testify again on Jan. 5 but is not legally required to appear. If she does not appear to testify, the trial will continue without her.

Seong Dong Kweon, a South Korean politician and lead prosecutor in the case, told international media Park’s refusal to testify was "inappropriate" for a President.

"It's not good etiquette to the justices and also inappropriate for the president, as the defendant of the impeachment trial, to say this and that to the media outside of court," Kweon told reporters.

Choi’s daughter Yoo Ra Chung was arrested in Denmark for her role in the scandal and will face extradition charges to South Korea to testify. Chung, a 2014 Asian Games gold medalist, is suspected to have colluded with her mother and suspended President Park to benefit financially.

Chung was in Denmark reportedly for "equestrian-related business" according to international media reports. Her lawyer told reporters that she would comply with investigators.

Sports Minister Under Investigation

South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Yoon Sun Cho is the latest member of Park’s government to be investigated.

Cho previously served as a spokesperson for the president and as special adviser for state affairs before becoming sports minister. Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that Yoon’s house and other assets were seized by investigators as part of the ongoing influence peddling scandal.

Cho has repeatedly denied her involvement in the scandal. Investigators are looking to see if Yoon helped draw up a supposed "blacklist" of cultural groups in Korea between 2014 and 2015. Soon Sil Choi was reportedly one of the leaders in creating the blacklist along with Cho.

If a new administration were to come into power ahead of the 2018 Olympics, it would realistically bring in a new sports minister. Changing ministers in the months ahead of the Olympics happened before the 2016 Games without a major hiccup to preparations.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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