Park crisis could drag on for months
Print Edition
SOUTH Korean President Park Geun-hye, engulfed in an influence peddling scandal, says that if she is impeached she will wait for a court to uphold the decision, a party official said yesterday, a sign the political crisis could drag on for months.
Park’s embattled presidency faces a critical juncture, with parliament expected to hold an impeachment vote on Friday. But even if the motion is passed, it must be upheld by the Constitutional Court, a process that could take months at least.
In a separate development, South Korea’s most prominent corporate chiefs told a parliamentary panel they had not sought favors when they made contributions to two foundations at the heart of the scandal, even as one acknowledged it was hard to say “no” to the government.
“It’s a South Korean reality that if there is a government request, it is difficult for companies to decline,” said Huh Chang-soo, who heads the energy-to-retail GS Group and is also chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, the main lobby group for conglomerates known as chaebol.
Park, 64, is under intense pressure to resign, with huge crowds taking to the streets every Saturday calling for her to go. Her approval rating is at a record low of 4 percent.
She is accused of colluding with a friend and a former aide to pressure business owners to pay into two foundations set up to back policy initiatives. She has denied wrongdoing but apologized for carelessness in her ties with the friend, Choi Soon-sil.
Park met leaders of her Saenuri party and top official Chung Jin-suk later said the president was willing to accept her party’s proposal that she step down in April but gave no indication she was willing to quit immediately.
Opposition parties need at least 28 members from Park’s party for the impeachment bill to pass with a two-thirds majority. At least 29 are believed to be planning to vote for the bill, according to a breakaway faction.
Last week, Park offered to step down and asked parliament to decide how and when she should resign, a move opposition parties rejected as a ploy to buy time.
The heads of conglomerates controlling revenue equivalent to more than half the country’s economy were questioned over whether they were pressured by Park or Choi to give money to non-profit foundations, which backed initiatives put forth by Park, in exchange for special treatment.
Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee said Park had asked him for support for cultural and sports-related developments but did not specifically request money. “There are often requests from various parts of society including for culture and sports. We have never contributed seeking quid pro quo. This case was the same,” Lee said.
Samsung donated 20.4 billion won (US$17.46 million) to the two foundations, the most of any group, and prosecutors raided its offices last month.
The hearing at the National Assembly was the first to feature such a large group of chaebol bosses.
The family-controlled chaebol have long dominated the economy, working closely with the government in a system that helped the country rebuild from the ravages of war.
But critics say the system is due for reform, including improved corporate governance and transparency.
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