South Korea’s PM-nominee says scandal-ridden president can be investigated

Newly appointed Prime Minister Kim Byong-joon, right, meets with media as he arrives his office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. Pic: AP

 3rd November 2016

SOUTH KOREAN President Park Geun-hye can be subjected to questioning in the ongoing investigation into the influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime friend, said the country’s Prime Minister-designate Kim Byong-joon.

The newly-appointed Kim, who was nominated by Park, issued the comment on Thursday as opposition lawmakers stepped up their demands that prosecutors directly investigate Park to get to the bottom of the scandal.

South Korean media have been speculating that Park’s friend, Choi Soon-sil, pulled strings in government affairs from the shadows and pushed businesses to donate millions of dollars to two foundations that she controlled.

Kim told a televised conference that he thinks it’s possible to have Park investigated, as there are different interpretations of a constitution provision that grants sitting presidents immunity from criminal lawsuits.

SEE ALSO: South Korea’s Park replaces PM, two ministers as presidential scandal grows

But he added that the procedures and methods of any such probe of the head of state must be carefully done.

“There are different interpretations of the Constitution. But I believe we can conduct an investigation into Park,” Kim told reporters in his first official meeting with the media, as quoted by Yonhap News.

“As she is still the head of state, however, we should be prudent about the process and methods. Everyone is equal before the law,” he added.

The President’s Office announced on Wednesday that Park nominated Kim, a former top policy adviser for late liberal president Roh Moo-hyun, as her new prime minister, replacing incumbent Hwang Kyo-ahn. Kim’s appointment is, however, still subject to parliamentary approval.

(File) South Korean President Park Geun-hye bows after addressing to the nation at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, in January. Pic: AP.

Kim said the president had asked him to handle the economic and social affairs portfolio in his capacity as the prime minister. The delegation of tasks was made in wake of the public anger fueled by the scandal which had raised concerns that Park would not be able to perform regular duties.

“The role of prime ministers as stipulated in the Constitution is simple. They receive orders from the president and control state affairs, and hold rights to request nomination or dismissal of Cabinet members,” Kim said. “But I do not believe previous prime ministers exercised such rights.”

SEE ALSO: South Korea: Thousands call for president’s resignation over allegations of cronyism and ‘shaman’ influence

South Korean prosecutors have also detained a former senior aide to Park as they widen their investigations into the political scandal centering on whether the president’s longtime friend was pulling government strings from the shadows.

Ahn Jong-beom is the second person detained over the scandal that has triggered mounting calls for Park’s resignation. Earlier this week, prosecutors detained Park’s friend, Choi Soon-sil, late Monday and requested an arrest warrant for her.

According to media reports, Choi, who is a cult leader’s daughter with a decades-long connection to Park, made policy recommendations, despite holding no government position.

A Seoul prosecution office said on Thursday that it has detained Ahn while questioning him over his alleged involvement in extracting US$70 million of company donations.

Choi Soon-sil surrounded by the media and officers from the prosecutor’s office when she arrived Monday for questioning. Pic: AP.

Prosecutors have to determine whether to seek an arrest warrant for Ahn or release him by Friday.

The scandal came to light last week when local cable TV network JTBC broke a story revealing evidence that Choi had received confidential documents and influenced government matters.

The saga took on a strange twist when rumors swirled of Choi’s links to a religious cult, depicting her as a “shaman” who has been manipulating Park through supernatural means and even comparing her to Russian mystic Rasputin.

Last Tuesday, Park made a rare public apology, admitting that she had shown secret documents, including drafts of presidential speeches, to her confidante, who did not hold any official position.

Angered by the scandal, an estimated 30,000 people took part in a demonstration on Saturday that saw protesters march through the capital of Seoul.

Since late last week, Park has ordered over a dozen of her senior aides to resign amid an investigation into the scandal.

Public outcry over Choi has seen Park’s approval ratings take a tumble, hitting an all-time low of 21.1 percent on Thursday, according to local pollster Real Meter, while in another poll, over 40 percent of respondents said Park should resign or be impeached.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press