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The so-called “doorknob triumvirate

Prosecutors appear set to focus on five criminal allegations in their questioning of President Park Geun-hye, which is likely to take place on Nov. 16. The charges include bribery, abuse of power, coercion, and violation of the Presidential Records Act. With bribery in particular seen as a serious enough crime to be listed among the specific grounds for impeachment, the questioning could have a significant impact on Park’s actions going ahead.

In connection with the bribery accusations, prosecutors are focusing their investigative energy on the extent of Park‘s involvement in the foundation of and coercive fund-raising for the Mir and K-Sports Foundations. Even insiders are pointing to Park as “basically the orchestrator”; the special investigation headquarters has not denied that it is considering charging her with bribery. Ahn Jong-beom, a former Blue House Senior Secretary to the President for Policy Coordination who spearheaded the fundraising effort while serving as Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, told prosecutors during recent questioning that he had “conducted the fundraising effort at the President’s instruction.”

Additional revelations that Park met individually with SK chairman Chey Tae-won and Lotte chairman Shin Dong-bin not only in July 2015 but also in February and March 2016 also appear likely to affect the decision on bribery charges, as they indicate Park was involved not only in the raising of funds for the foundations’ establishment but also in additional fundraising efforts. Following the meetings with Park, SK and Lotte were asked by the K-Sports Foundation to provide another 8 billion won (US$6.9 million) and 7 billion won (US$6 million), respectively. Prosecutors have already charged Choi Sun-sil and Ahn with abuse of power in connection with coercive fundraising for the foundations; now Park may find herself facing the same charge.

Another of the main charges Park could face is violation of the Presidential Records Act. On Nov. 14, prosecutors summoned former Blue House secretary Jeong Ho-seong for questioning, along with two other former secretaries from the so-called “doorknob triumvirate,” Ahn Bong-geun and Lee Jae-man.

Prosecutors have confirmed the presence of dozens of files for Presidential speeches and Cabinet documents on a tablet PC known to have been used by Choi. In her first apology to the public on Oct. 25, Park herself admitted that she sent Blue House documents to Choi to “hear her opinion” for a “certain period after taking office.” Presidential orders contained on the mobile phone belonging to Jeong Ho-seong, who served as a go-between for Park and Choi, are also likely to serve as major evidence. Some have maintained that the documents relayed to Choi did not constitute Presidential records because they were not final versions. In this case, a charge of leaking information in the course of government affairs could be applied.

Charges of abuse of power or coercion are being considered for Park’s improper interference with personnel appointments at both civilian and government institutions. Prosecutors have already begun collecting evidence with a raid on the home of former Blue House Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs Cho Won-dong on Nov. 14 in connection with demands for the resignation of CJ Group vice chairperson Lee Mi-kyung. In 2013, Cho called CJ Group chairperson Sohn Kyung-shik to demand Lee‘s resignation, claiming it was the “wish of the VIP” - an apparent reference to President Park.

Also reporting to prosecutors for questioning recently were two Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism employees allegedly subjected to resignation pressures: bureau director No Tae-gang and division director Jin Jae-su. Both were demoted for not siding with Choi after a 2013 audit of the Korea Equestrian Federation, ending up relocated to minor posts before resigning this year.

Accusations of coerced resignations have been also been growing over remarks reported made early this year by Park, who was quoted as saying, “Are these people still here [in government office]?”

By Choi Hyun-june, staff reporter

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