Park’s confidante denies extortion charges as her trial begins in Seoul
Print Edition
THE confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye yesterday denied using her ties to the president to extort money from major companies when she appeared in court on the first day of her trial.
The hourlong hearing at the Seoul Central District Court was the first public appearance in weeks for the woman at the heart of a scandal that led to Park’s impeachment after millions took to the streets in protests.
Choi Soon-sil, Park’s friend of 40 years, wore white prison clothes and bowed deeply to the three judges before her lawyer Lee Kyoung-jae denied that Choi conspired with Park and her presidential aide to pressure companies to donate tens of millions of dollars to foundations controlled by Choi last year. When asked by a judge about the extortion charges, she denied the charges.
“I’m sorry for causing trouble. I’ll faithfully engage in (my) trial,” Choi said.
The court reviewed the charges against Choi, who prosecutors say manipulated state affairs and extorted businesses, and her lawyer’s arguments.
Choi’s trial resumes on December 29, but it’s not clear how long the trial will last. Courts normally issue a verdict within six months of an indictment, so she’ll likely get a verdict by May unless new charges are brought.
Ten others swept up in the scandal also face trial. Choi is also known as Choi Seo-won, which is how she was referred to in court.
Her trial is South Korea’s biggest since the 2014 court appearance of the crew of a ferry that sank and killed more than 300 people, mostly teenagers.
Choi last appeared in public on October 31, when, after losing a Prada shoe in a crush of media and protesters, she told reporters at the Seoul prosecutors’ office that she had “committed a sin that deserves death.”
Choi’s lawyer said yesterday that prosecutors violated Choi’s rights by illegally investigating her after she’d been indicted, something prosecutors denied.
Choi is charged with abuse of power, extortion and attempted fraud. If convicted on all charges, she could receive up to 15 years in prison, according to court spokesman Shin Jae-hwan.
Before her arrest, Choi said she received some of Park’s speeches in advance but that she didn’t know if they included confidential information. She denied the other allegations.
Prosecutors allege that Choi helped pressure 16 companies to donate a total of 77.4 billion won (US$65.6 million) to create two nonprofit foundations, Mir and K-Sports. According to the prosecution, Park first brought up the idea of launching the foundations and ordered her senior secretary for policy coordination at the time, Ahn Jong-beom, to ask companies to finance their establishment while letting Choi handle the appointment of foundation officials.
Another ex-presidential aide, Jung Ho-sung, has been charged with passing on confidential information to Choi. Jung didn’t appear at the hearing but his lawyer said he has largely acknowledged he transferred such documents at Park’s instructions.
Park’s representatives have questioned the legality of her impeachment by the country’s parliament and said no serious crime was committed.
The Constitutional Court is reviewing Park’s impeachment.
Choi, 60, is a daughter of the late Choi Tae-min, a purported cult leader who served as Park’s mentor. Park, 64, is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea for 18 years until his 1979 assassination.
The women became friends in the 1970s, around the time Park Geun-hye began serving as first lady after her mother was killed in a 1974 assassination attempt on Park Chung-hee.
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