Parliament makes way for special investigation into Choi gate

The National Assembly on Thursday approved a bill calling for the inception of an independent special investigation tasked with untangling the web of allegations of irregularities surrounding President Park Geun-hye’s old friend.

The bill was passed 196 to 10 with 14 abstentions. It is designed to enable the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and minor opposition People’s Party to recommend two candidates to lead the probe, with one among them to be chosen by the president. 

The vote came after a tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition camps as some Saenuri lawmakers had staged resistance, arguing the bill fails to ensure “political neutrality and the investigation’s independence” by giving the opposition lopsided authority to nominate the prospective chief prosecutors.

The focal point would be whether, and if so when and how, Park would undergo questioning. Offering a public apology for a second time on Nov. 4 over the scandal, the president said she is willing to be interviewed, including by a then to-be-launched independent special investigation, but she has not yet responded to a meeting request from the prosecution.

Once set up, the team will be given up to 20 days for prior preparations and another 70 days to complete its investigation and prosecute a case, though it could be extended one time by 20 days with the endorsement of the president.

The team is set to be sent to next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting for approval and will likely be initiated as late as early next month. It would consist of around 60 people, including 20 prosecutors.

Aside from the prosecutors, a parliamentary committee chaired by Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the ruling Saenuri Party plans to carry out a separate investigation and seek accountability within 60 days.

With a clause banning related persons from refusing to comply with an interview or submission of requested materials, the legislation is expected to bring in not only Park’s friend Choi Soon-sil, but also former presidential secretaries, ranking government officials and others who are suspected to have helped her set up slush funds and meddle in state affairs.

Virtually all government agencies are subject to the questioning, such as Cheong Wa Dae’s secretary and security offices and the National Security Council, as well as the finance, education, future planning, unification, culture and health ministries. The list also includes two culture and sports institutes working as Choi’s de facto slush funds -- the Mir Foundation and K-Sports Foundation -- and the Federation of Korean Industries, the country’s largest business lobby, which pushed for major member conglomerates to bankroll the funds.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, which has been looking into the scandal by forming a special investigation squad, said it will continue its work “in a strict and thorough manner” until the establishment of the independent crew, with which it would “fully cooperate.”

In another development, the three opposition parties, including the splinter Justice Party, agreed to launch a campaign to collect citizens’ signatures to press for Park’s resignation in cooperation with civil society, the parties’ spokespeople said.

With the president’s side seen seeking to put off the investigation’s summons, the parties urged the prosecution to change Park’s status to “suspect” from the current “reference witness” so as to conduct a questioning “in a speedier and meticulous fashion.”

Cheong Wa Dae, for its part, reiterated Park’s display of her willingness to respond to the special investigation, downplaying the possibility for her veto. 

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)