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President Park Geun-hye leaves the podium at the Blue House in Seoul after reading an apology on Nov. 4.

President Park Geun-hye said on Nov. 17 that she would not be able to undergo questioning by prosecutors within the week.

Her position is a rejection of an ultimatum by prosecutors, who insisted she agree to in-person questioning by Nov. 18. Now they are considering the possibility of going ahead with including specific accusations against Park for leaking of official documents and abuse of power in a group indictment this weekend of her confidante Choi Sun-sil, 60, and other key figures in a recent scandal over government interference, regardless of whether Park is questioned or not.

In a text message sent on the afternoon of Nov. 17, Park’s attorney Yu Yeong-ha wrote, “In view of the President’s schedule and my own preparations, we will cooperate with questioning of the President next week after completing argument preparations as soon as possible.”

“The President has repeatedly stated her firm commitment to actively cooperating with the prosecutors in bringing the facts of this case to light, and there has been no change in that position,” Yu continued.

Prosecutors had originally set Nov. 16 as a deadline when announcing plans to question Park in person. They later indicated a final deadline of Nov. 18 after Park requested a delay in the questioning. Park’s refusal to agree to this final proposal from prosecutors was read as indicating that she plans to see the content of the prosecutors’ indictment of Choi and the others before taking legal action.

In a position statement, the prosecutors’ special investigation headquarters under Lee Yeong-ryeol sent a clear message that it would be physically impossible to delay Park’s questioning until next week.

“We reiterate that there has been no change in our position that in-person questioning [of the President] must take place before the indictment of the three individuals under detention, including Choi Sun-sil, and that the deadline for that is tomorrow [Nov. 18],” the statement read.

With Park’s refusal to agree to questioning this week, prosecutors appear likely to issue simultaneous indictments this weekend against Choi; former Blue House Senior Secretary to the President for Policy Coordination Ahn Jong-beom, 57; and former Blue House secretary Jeong Ho-seong, 47.

When asked by reporters whether Choi would be indicted without questioning of Park if the President did not agree to it, a source with the special investigation headquarters said, “Logically, that is a possibility.”

Prosecutors have reportedly set plans internally to list specific charges against Park as an accomplice to leaking of confidential information on the indictments of Choi and the other suspects.

By Kim Min-kyung, Seo Young-ji and Choi Hye-jung, staff reporters

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