South Korea prosecutors indict ex-presidential aides in scandal probe
South Korean prosecutors have charged two former senior presidential aides as part of an investigation into a massive corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of president Park Geun-hye.
Cho Won-dong, a former senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, was indicted on Sunday for allegedly working with Park in an unsuccessful attempt to pressure the vice chairman of a Seoul-based conglomerate to quit, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Prosecutors also charged Kim Chong, a former vice culture minister, accused of collusion with Park’s confidante, Choi Soon-sil, and her niece to force companies to “donate” large sums of money to a sports management company controlled by Choi’s niece.
Both officials were indicted in a Seoul court for suspected abuse of power and coercion for exerting influence over state-run firms.
The development came two days after Park was impeached on charges of constitutional and criminal violations ranging from failure to protect people’s lives to bribery and abuse of power.
Huge weekly protests had been going on demanding that politicians take an active role in ousting Park from office.
Most of the charges stemmed from a probe into a scandal involving Choi, a long-time confidante to the suspended president. Choi is currently awaiting prosecution for fraud and embezzlement.
Park is accused of colluding with Choi in coercing large corporations into paying tens of millions of dollars in “donations” to organizations under her control.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, a former prosecutor who has never held elected office, is in charge of steering the country following the revocation of Park’s executive powers as a result of the impeachment.
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