[Editorial] Pres. Park must take responsibility for “Choi Sun-sil Gate”

Posted on : 2016-10-20 16:53 KST Modified on : 2016-10-20 16:53 KST
The Blue House
The Blue House

It is well known that South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Choi Sun-sil have been close friends for more than 40 years. Choi has been a regular visitor to the Blue House, which even Park’s own sister would have trouble getting access to. And now more and more allegations are being raised about Choi’s corruption. Regardless of how much the Blue House may deny it, it is the undeniable truth that these are classic examples of corruption by an associate of the president.

For a long time now, Choi’s corruption has gone beyond mere allegations and approached the level of being established facts. Even though new accusations of corruption are being raised nearly every day, the people involved are unable to say a single word in explanation or defense. Those implicated stay in hiding as they hurry to destroy the evidence. One legal expert has even said that, at least legally speaking, Choi might as well have confessed her crimes. No matter how much Park insists that the allegations are unconfirmed, the light of the truth cannot be hidden.

The relationship between “Choi Sun-sil Gate” and the Blue House is vividly illustrated by a single map. Park’s private residence, Choi‘s house, the Mir and K-Sports Foundations and the office of The Blue K (a company owned by Choi) are all clustered close together. The “Blue” in The Blue K was taken from the Blue House, and one source has even claimed that the Blue House was asked to do background checks when the K-Sports Foundation was hiring employees. There needs to be a thorough investigation into whether the office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs was connected with this.

When allegations have been made about corruption by the associates and relatives of past presidents, they have humbly apologized to the South Korean public. Kim Young-sam (president from 1993-1998) said, “A son’s flaws are his father’s flaws, and I’m to blame for not teaching him to act better.” Kim Dae-jung (1998-2003) said, “I am too ashamed to raise my head.”

If Park had any sense of decency, she would apologize to the Korean people. She might take responsibility for the scandal caused by this woman whom she had treated as a little sister her whole life, and she might acknowledge that she ought to have taught Choi to behave better.

But the reality is that Park may not even be qualified to make such an apology. After all, Park enabled Choi to behave with such insolence rather than teaching her proper behavior. Public servants who got on Choi‘s bad side were demoted after Park referred them to as “bad people,” and later they lost their jobs after Park asked why they were still employed. This was the hotbed in which grew the poison mushrooms of Choi Sun-sil Gate. That is why this scandal cannot be made to go away by Park simply apologizing or giving orders for a strict investigation.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

button that move to original korean article (클릭시 원문으로 이동하는 버튼)