S Korea’s Park apologises, promises co-operation
SEOUL: Ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye apologised to the country yesterday as she arrived at prosecutors’ offices for questioning as a criminal suspect in a corruption scandal that has gripped the country for months.
Park, 65, became South Korea’s first democratically elected president to be removed from office when the Constitutional Court this month upheld her impeachment by parliament in December.
She has been accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations that backed her policy initiatives. Park and Choi have both denied wrongdoing.
“I am sorry to the people. I will faithfully co-operate with questioning,” Park said in front of media at the steps of the prosecutors’ office building, her first comments addressed directly to the public since she was dismissed.
Park has not been charged but could face more than 10 years in jail if convicted of receiving bribes from bosses of big conglomerates, including Samsung Group chief Jay Y Lee, in return for favours.
After about five hours of questioning, an official from the prosecutors’ office told reporters Park had been forthcoming, but he declined to elaborate on what she had been asked, on her responses or on what charges she might face.
Park’s fate and the widening corruption investigation have gripped the country at a time of rising tension with North Korea and China.
Hundreds of Park’s flag-waving supporters gathered outside her home in Seoul’s upmarket Gangnam district to see her off, and later gathered outside the prosecution office.
Television cameras followed her as she was driven in a black sedan to the office, a few minutes away from her home, escorted by police who cleared the road. Earlier, media saw Park’s hairdresser arriving at her home.
Park was dressed in a dark navy coat and trouser suit with grey shoes, and looked sombre as she stood to deliver her brief remarks.
Park, who was accompanied by two of her lawyers, was given tea before her first session of questioning by two prosecutors and an investigation official.
One of her lawyers, Yoo Yeong-ha, is known as her “Bulletproof Vest” and has been her legal voice since the beginning of the scandal in October.
Park declined to have her questioning recorded by video camera, prosecutors said. She later had a lunch break of some seaweed rice rolls and a sandwich.