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The photo line set up for photographers at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office

Prosecutors announced on Mar. 15 that former president Park Geun-hye had been given notice to appear at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on the morning of Mar. 21.

Park’s attorneys said the same day that she would appear. Prosecutors plan to weigh whether to request an arrest warrant after questioning Park.

The Prosecutor’s special investigation headquarters announced on Mar. 15 that it had “notified former President Park’s attorneys of her summons,” adding that the summons was for 9:30 am on Mar. 21.

In a statement later that afternoon, Park’s attorneys said Park would “appear at the time requested by Prosecutors and faithfully comply with questioning.”

The attorneys added that it would “provide necessary information for the investigation process and otherwise actively cooperate with the Prosecutors’ investigation to help in ensuring that the true facts quickly come to light.” The team officially relayed this position to the headquarters.

Since November, Park’s attorneys have repeatedly refused to cooperate with in-person questioning by prosecutors and the Special Prosecutor. But the situation changed with last week’s Constitutional Court ruling removing Park from office, which stripped her of immunity to prosecution and allowed for compulsory investigation.

After questioning Park, the Prosecutors are planning to consider the option of requesting a warrant for her arrest. Given the logic of the investigation, sources with the Prosecutors think they are likely to ask for such a warrant. All of Park’s co-conspirators -- Choi Sun-sil, former Blue House Senior Secretary for Policy Coordination Ahn Jong-beom and former Blue House Personal Secretary Jung Ho-seong – are in jail, not to mention Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who is accused of giving a bribe, a comparatively mild crime. Park denies all the charges that were raised against her during the investigations by the prosecutors and by the Special Prosecutor. After Park has been questioned, Lee Yeong-ryeol, head of the investigative headquarters, will submit the opinions of the investigators to Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam, who will then likely decide whether to ask for an arrest warrant.

By Seo Young-ji, staff reporter

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