South Korean tycoons line up for biggest corruption probe
The South Korean parliament has kicked off an unprecedented series of hearings that will see top business heads grilled over their alleged connections with President Park Geun-hye’s influence-peddling scandal.
The hearings started on Monday with the heads of industrial behemoths Samsung and Hyundai lining up with seven other top business leaders to testify before the National Assembly’s special investigation committee.
The heads of the so-called chaebol conglomerates, including Samsung Group’s de facto leader Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, are scheduled to appear at the inquiry on Tuesday.
The hearings opened on the back of a series of weekly mass demonstrations in the capital, Seoul, that have seen millions of people take to the streets to call for Park’s resignation.
Park is under intense pressure to step down over the scandal, which involves one of her close associates. A parliamentary vote to impeach her over the case could take place on Friday.
Park’s presidential Blue House aides addressed the parliamentary hearing on Monday over the allegation that Park and her friend, Choi Soon-sil, as well as a senior aide to Park, put pressure on major corporations to pay money to foundations that were set up to promote Park’s policy initiatives.
Choi, 60, has been accused of using her relationship with Park to solicit $70 million in donations from conglomerates such as Samsung, intended for two foundations but in fact embezzled for her personal use.
The shadowy woman has been detained and is being questioned by prosecutors, as are several of Park’s close aides.
Choi, who has been indicted on charges of coercion and abuse of power, is set to appear at televised hearings on Wednesday.
Park has denied any wrongdoing, but has apologized for exercising poor judgment.
Last week, she offered to step down and asked the parliament to decide how and when she should leave office.
Opposition parties rejected her proposal, describing it as a ploy to buy time and avoid being impeached, and vowed to push ahead with the impeachment bid.
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