32 prosecutors look into Choi Soon-sil scandal

By Chung Hyun-chae

The size of the special prosecutors’ team investigating the influence-peddling scandal surrounding Choi Soon-sil is expected to be the biggest ever, according to the prosecutors’ office, Friday.

Prosecutors announced Friday that the number will be 32. Earlier Friday, General Kim Soo-nam pledged to mobilize as many investigators as possible for the case.

The announcement came immediately after President Park Geun-hye’s apology in which she vowed to comply with the prosecution investigation.

“With Choi under detention, we believe we’re ready to get to the bottom of all suspicions to reveal the truth,” the prosecutor general Kim said.

Thirty-two is approximately one-sixth of the entire prosecution body in the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, and the team will be led by prosecutor Lee Young-ryeol, who leads the Seoul office.

Choi was arrested early Friday. She is accused of conspiring with An Chong-bum, former senior presidential secretary for policy coordination, to force conglomerates to pay 77.4 billion won ($64 million) for the establishment of Mir and K-Sports foundations. The foundations were allegedly founded for Choi’s own benefit and were controlled by her.

Choi is also charged with attempted scamming as prosecutors suspected that she attempted to pocket 700 million won from the K-Sports Foundation in return for two research projects pursued by the Blue K, a paper company she controlled.

According to prosecutors, the company earned the project without any previous experience.

While denying major allegations, Choi said Friday, through her lawyer, that she accepted the court decision and will cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Investigators said they’re looking into other allegations, including that Choi had access to presidential documents and interfered in the state decision-making processes. Reading presidential documents is not a violation of law, because the law only limits punishment to civil servants who give out the documents.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is pondering how to proceed with the president, which will be the first president in Korea’s history to be criminally investigated during her reign.

There are three options ― a written interview, a visit by the prosecution to Cheong Wa Dae or her visit to the prosecutors’ office ― and the prosecution said it will move along through consultations with relevant offices.

An, who was sacked by Park, Oct. 30, and was detained Wednesday night, reportedly told prosecutors he only obeyed the President’s instruction to force conglomerates to fund the establishment of the two foundations.

Meanwhile, visual arts director Cha Eun-taek, one of key figures in the corruption scandal, is also set to face questioning as early as this weekend. New reports have said Cha, who left for China about two months ago, is expected to return on the weekend.

New allegations surfaced on Thursday that Cha took kickbacks from subcontractors of his own company.

He’s also suspected of exerting influence on Cheong Wa Dae to appoint his friends and family in key government positions related to culture.