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South Korean President Park Geun-hye's former chief of staff bore the brunt of criticism from lawmakers at the second round of parliamentary hearings Wednesday on a corruption case which threatens to end her presidency.
A National Assembly committee grilled key figures in the case centering on Park's confidante Choi Soon-sil, focusing on allegations that Choi and her associates meddled in government affairs and amassed wealth illegally by using their ties with those in power. Choi, arrested last month on charges of abuse of power, coercion and fraud, refused to attend the hearing citing health problems.
Among them were former top presidential aide Kim Ki-choon, former vice culture and sports minister Kim Chong and commercial film director Cha Eun-taek, who swayed the cultural sector by leveraging his connection with Choi. Kim Chong and Cha were also arrested.
The focus of the hearing was on the former chief of staff, who exerted immense influence in the Park administration.
Kim has been accused of playing a key role in building relations among the people implicated in the scandal. He has also taken flak for keeping silent over questions about Park's inaction at the time of a deadly ferry disaster in 2014, when he served at the presidential office.
Faced with a flurry of criticism, Kim told lawmakers he felt sorry for not assisting the president properly.
Kim, however, continued to deny any link to the influence-peddling scandal and repeated that he has never been acquainted with Choi.
"If I had known Choi, I should have contacted or called her, shouldn't I? The prosecutors' investigation will clear this," Kim Ki-choon said.
The lawmakers also quizzed Kim about the president's whereabouts during the sinking of the Sewol ferry in 2014, which left more than 300 dead or missing.
Park has been dogged by criticism that she failed to properly respond to the tragedy. She and aides have yet to clarify why she made her first appearance a full seven hours after the first report was made on the accident.
Kim repeated his earlier statement that he only knew that the president was at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae during the time, but is not aware of details.
Other key suspects in the case also took battering from lawmakers.
Cha Eun-taek, who is alleged to have used his connections with Choi to pocket profits, denied suspicions that he entered the presidential office during the late hours for secret communications with Park.
Cha did admit to meeting Kim Ki-choon and former Vice Culture Minister Kim Chong. Cha said the meeting took place at Choi's request and was only intended to exchange greetings. Cha, however, "partially" admitted to allegations that he exerted influence on personnel issues and advertisement projects for KT Corp., a local mobile carrier.
Former Vice Minister Kim Chong denied allegations that Kim Ki-choon requested he provide favors to Choi's daughter. He said he only got to know about Choi through an acquaintance after he became the vice minister. He also denied the allegation that he sought to pressure swimming champion Park Tae-hwan to give up swimming in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, adding the suspicion is attributable to a misunderstanding.
The former vice culture minister, however, admitted expressing discontent with figure skating star Kim Yu-na, but declined to say why.
Ko Young-tae, another close associate who worked at a company owned by Choi, said he does not "admire" Choi, adding he was merely an employee. Ko is known to have introduced Cha to Choi.
Ko added the workers disliked Choi, as she used abusive words and treated them unfairly. Cha claimed Ko and Choi fought over financial issues.
Ko also said Choi considered the former vice culture minister as her personal secretary.
Among the 27 figures summoned by parliament, 14 did not show up at the National Assembly, including Choi and her family members. The whereabouts of Choi's daughter Chung Yoo-ra and Woo Byung-woo, the ex-senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, also remain unknown.
Parliament had issued orders of accompaniment for Choi and 10 others to appear in the afternoon. The order is issued to forcefully make a suspect or witness appear at a hearing when he or she refuses to attend without a justifiable reason.
On Tuesday, the parliamentary committee grilled the heads of eight conglomerates on their alleged connections to Choi. They were found to have donated to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi. She is suspected of embezzling money from them.
The business tycoons denied allegations that they were seeking favors in exchange for their contributions, claiming they could not turn down donation requests from the presidential office.
(YONHAP)
