Seoul’s Park criticised over court ‘defiance’
Senior aides submit resignations en masse
SEOUL: Ousted South Korean leader Park Geun-hye faced criticism yesterday over a defiant vow that the truth of her impeachment would be revealed, with the main opposition party urging prosecutors to investigate her quickly as Ms Park’s senior aides offered their resignations.
The Constitutional Court dismissed Ms Park from office on Friday when it upheld a parliamentary impeachment vote over an influence-peddling scandal that has shaken the political and business elite. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Ms Park left the Blue House presidential palace in Seoul on Sunday evening to return to her private home in the city as an ordinary citizen, stripped of her presidential immunity that has shielded her from prosecution.
“Even at the moment she left, she refused to say a word to repent in front of the people, but said such and such about truth and declared nothing but disobedience,” Choo Mi-ae, head of the biggest opposition party, the Democratic Party, told a meeting yesterday.
Ms Park has not commented publicly since the court ruling, but a spokesman read out a statement from her after she returned to her home in the upmarket Gangnam district, in which she expressed regret at not being able to complete her term.
“It will take time, but I believe the truth will be revealed,” Ms Park said through the spokesman.
TV footage showed a broadly smiling Ms Park waving to hundreds of supporters who gathered around her home, taking selfies with some as many chanted: “Our president forever.”
Many South Koreans have interpreted that as a protest against the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
“It was very shocking and regrettable,” said Yoo Seong-min, a presidential candidate from the small, right-wing Bareun Party. “Protesting [against] the constitutional court’s decision is a betrayal of the people and betrayal of the constitution.”
Senior aides to Ms Park yesterday submitted their resignations en masse to the country’s acting leader, a government official said.
Presidential Chief of Staff Han Gwangok and nine other presidential secretaries tendered their resignations to acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, the official said.
The secretaries have been considering stepping down to take responsibility for the ousting of Ms Park, the country’s first leader to be removed from office by constitutional means.
It remains uncertain whether Mr Hwang will accept the resignations given that he needs the aides’ assistance in handling a series of economic and diplomatic challenges and ensuring the smooth transition of government, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“After the resignations are tendered, [Mr Hwang] could selectively accept some of them,” an unidentified government official was quoted by Yonhap as saying. “For the stable management of state affairs, [Mr Hwang] could also consider turning all of them down.”
The impeachment has exposed divisions in a society in which politics is still partly framed by Cold War rivalry.
Ms Park’s mostly liberal opponents gathered for rallies every weekend for months, while her conservative supporters also held demonstrations nearby.
While no serious clashes between the two sides have erupted, three Park supporters died after angry clashes with police outside the court on Friday. Two were believed to have suffered heart attacks and the third died in an accident.
Dozens of Ms Park’s supporters milled about on the street outside her home yesterday, most carrying pictures of her or national flags. Police also patrolled the area.
The Democratic Party’s Mr Choo said Ms Park should be treated as a suspect and cooperate with any investigation.
“Prosecutors must find the truth and punish any crime through their swift and thorough investigation,” Mr Choo said.
Prosecutors accused Ms Park of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses into contributing to foundations set up to support her policy and allowing her to exert influence on state affairs.
Ms Park and Ms Choi both denied wrongdoing and Ms Park declined to answer prosecutors’ questions.
A snap presidential election will be held by May 9. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party is favourite in opinion polls.
Ms Park’s dismissal followed months of political paralysis and turmoil over the scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in jail and facing trial.
Parliament set up a team of special prosecutors to investigate but its mandate has expired and the case has been handed over to regular state prosecutors. Media said prosecutors were considering summoning Ms Park as early as this week.