Ousted S. Korea president defiant upon return home
SEOUL, South Korea — Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye expressed defiance toward the corruption allegations against her as she vacated the presidential palace and returned to her home on Sunday, two days after the Constitutional Court removed her from office.
In her first public comments since the court’s ruling, Park said in statement, “Although it will take time, I believe the truth will certainly come out.”
Park will likely face a direct investigation soon by prosecutors who already consider her a criminal suspect over suspicions that she colluded with a confidante to extort money and favors from companies and allowed the friend to secretly interfere with state affairs.
Upon her return home, Park was greeted by hundreds of supporters who chanted her name and waved the South Korean flag as her bodyguardflanked black sedan slowly approached the house. Park smiled and waved from inside the car.
In her statement, read by her former spokesman, Park also expressed gratitude to her supporters and apologized for “failing to fulfill my duty as president.”
Prior to Sunday, she had apologized for putting trust in her jailed friend, Choi Soon-sil, but strongly denied any legal wrongdoing.
Youn Kwansuk, the spokesman for the liberal Democratic Party, the largest in parliament, called Park’s statement “shocking” and “very regrettable” because she did not express remorse.
“Former President Park will now be investigated by prosecutors as a civilian and as a criminal suspect,” Youn said in a statement. “So it’s very regrettable that former President Park decided to waste her last opportunity to come before the nation and show responsibility.”
Park no longer has immunity from prosecution and may face criminal charges including extortion, bribery and abuse of power.
The Constitutional Court formally removed her from office on Friday, upholding an impeachment motion filed by lawmakers in December.
Her departure from the presidential Blue House on Sunday evening came a day after tens of thousands of opponents and supporters divided the streets of downtown Seoul with massive rallies.