Ousted South Korean leader Park goes on trial
South Korea’s ousted president Park Geun-Hye, grim-faced and brought to court in handcuffs, went on trial yesterday over a sprawling corruption scandal that saw millions take to the streets and led to her downfall. Only two months after leaving the presidential palace in disgrace, Park appeared at the Seoul Central District Court with a badge bearing her prisoner number pinned to her blue trouser suit, and no make-up. She avoided meeting the glance of her longtime secret confidante and co-accused Choi Soon-Sil.
The trial, expected to last for months, is the final act in the drama that engulfed Park, the daughter of a dictator who went on to be elected president herself before being sacked by the country’s top court. Presiding judge Kim Se-Yun, who heads a three-man panel-there is no jury asked her: “What is your occupation, the accused Park Geun-Hye?” She responded: “I don’t have any occupation.” Park, 65, is the third former South Korean leader to stand trial for corruption.
She was impeached by parliament in December after mass demonstrations fuel led by economic and social frustrations-demanding her removal over a scandal centered on Choi, her friend of 40 years, and implicating some of the country’s top businessmen. Park was detained soon after her dismissal-yesterday’s court session was her first public appearance since then-and indicted on 18 charges including bribery, coercion and abuse of power for offering governmental favors to tycoons.
Cozy and corrupt ties between South Korea’s business and political elites have endured for decades. But the trial could shed new light on the links between Park and the bosses of the family-run conglomerates that dominate Asia’s fourth-biggest economy. They include Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong, who is being tried separately, and Shin Dong-Bin, the chairman of retail giant Lotte, the South’s fifth-biggest conglomerate, who was among the accused yesterday.
On her most serious count, Park is accused of taking or seeking bribes totaling 59.2 billion won ($52 million) for Choi or herself, most of which went to non-profit foundations which Choi controlled. Prosecutors told the court that Park and Choi colluded in receiving seven billion won from Shin last year. Park met Samsung’s Lee in July 2015 and told him she hoped the succession at the world’s biggest smartphone maker “would be resolved smoothly under her government”, asking him to support the foundations, according to prosecutor Hwang Woong-Jae.
Park is also accused of letting Choi, who has no title or security clearance, handle a wide range of state affairs including senior appointments. She has previously blamed Choi for abusing their friendship. In a calm and measured voice the former head of state denied all the charges against her. Choi and Shin also denied the accusations, with Choi’s lawyer calling the case “politically motivated”. Half-sobbing, Choi herself told the court: “I feel very sorry for causing President Park to stand trial like this. President Park is not a person who could be lured by any bribes.” After the hearing adjourned for the day Park was put back into handcuffs and returned to the detention centre where she is being held.
Chapter of history
Courtroom 417 was packed, with spectator Lee Jae-Bong, 70, telling AFP: “I am here to witness a new chapter of history being unfurled. “I think Park must be punished thoroughly and never be pardoned so that such a bad thing may never happen again.” Former presidents Chun Doo-Hwan and Roh Tae-Woo served jail terms in the 1990s for charges including bribery and treason, and ex-president Roh Moo-Hyun the mentor of new leader Moon Jae-Inkilled himself in 2009 after being questioned over graft.
The hearing comes only two weeks after the country elected left-leaning former human rights lawyer Moon-who lost the 2012 poll to Park-as her successor. “Park’s trial means the rule of law is taking firm root in this country,” Euiyoung Kim, political science professor at Seoul National University, said. “Through candlelight protests, South Koreans achieved a peaceful change of government, bringing about a paradigm shift in democracy.”
Park grew up in the presidential palace as the daughter of dictator Park Chung-Hee, who took power in 1961. She stepped in as de facto first lady after her mother was murdered in an attempt to kill him. He was assassinated in turn in 1979. Park rose to the presidency largely on the back of his continuing popularity among older voters who had benefited from rapid economic growth under his tenure. If convicted of bribery, Park faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in jail, and a maximum of life.—AFP