16^th November

KBS News (video at link)

By Im Juhyeon

Today, Representative An Cheolsu of the [opposition coalition member] People’s Party told a press conference at the National Assembly “President Bak absolutely must not remain in the presidency. At the absolute latest new leadership must appear in the first half of next year.”

Why would An be asking for new leadership no later than the first half of next year? Does this mean that early elections should be held in the first half of next year? Reporters

An Cheolsu of the People’s Party makes a statement. The subtitles read “The President’s [continued] holding of office does not coincide with consitutional guarantees and any reversal of that would be incompatible with the constitution.”

Analysis: further criticism of Bak Geunhye, this time from the junior party in the opposition coalition, the People’s Party (38 seats in parliament compared to the governing Saenuri with 129 and the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, which has 122). An’s statement is actually rather mild, despite the headline –the opposition coalition may actually prefer Bak not to stand down immediately, as another presidential election is due December 2017. They may hope that Bak decides to stand, and is presumably crushed by an apopleptic public, rather than facing off against a conservative replacement candidate who is untainted by the Choi Sunshil affair.

13^th November

KBS News

By Gim Gihwhan

The caption reads “President Bak formally labelled witness in investigation”

It’s been revealed that the prosecution investigation into current President Bak Geunhye has identified her as a witness. The President said in a statement: “if necessary, I will assist the special prosecution team until their investigation is concluded.” It’s expected that President Bak’s contribution to the case will be made public as interest in the issue is so high. Already suspicion is rampant that traces of President Bak’s involvement with Choi Sunshil, already charged, has been revealed [by the prosecution investigation]. The prosecution will check on Bak’s involvement in the spreading of classified information from the President’s residence, the Blue House, and how Choi has become involved in state affairs.

President Bak’s involvement in soliciting contributions to [Choi-related organisations] Mir and the K-Sports Foundation is also under criminal investigation. Former top Blue House official An Jeongbeom has been required to testify about President’s Bak role in the contributions. Under question is whether President Bak encouraged contributions to these causes during separate meetings with 7 large conglomerates, and whether she discussed cabinet appointments with conglomerate presidents during this process. In addition, the background to the resignation of senior officials of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, who had audited the Korean Equestrian Association (linked to Choi’s family), and remarks made by the President around this issue, are expected to be included in the investigation.

Analysis: it’s astonishing that President Bak hasn’t resigned yet. Surely any evidence of jaebol conglomerate involvement in appointing cabinet members would be the final nail in the coffin? There’s also bound to be widespread disbelief and dismay that she is not being indicted as a formal suspect in the case.

6^th November 2016

KBS News

By Choi Junhyeok

Cha and Bak Geunhye speaking together at a public event

Today lawyers for Cha Euntaek, a pop music video director who has been highlighted as being involved in the [Choi Sunshil] “super wizard” scandal, confirmed that he would return to Korean on the 9^th of November to face questioning. A special unit of prosecutors had called on him to confirm that he would be returning to Korea and plans to bring Cha into custody as soon as he lands at the airport.

Cha has been targeted as he is thought to be as key a figure in the scandal as Choi Sunshil, with prosecutors planning to ascertain to what extent he intervened in President Bak’s cultural policy formation. In particular, prosecutors are targeting to what extent any of Cha’s relatives or children entered into any public cultural policy-making roles. [Also under investigation are] Cha’s former university supervisor, Gim Jongdeok, who was previously a minister at the Minister of Culture and Sport, and Gim Sangryul, previously chief of Education and Culture at the President’s residence, who is Cha’s maternal cousin. Also under investigation is Song Seonggak, previously director of the Korean Content Promotion ministry, who is known to have a very close friendship with Cha.

Cha is also suspected of having colluded with presidential policy co-ordinator An Jongbeom to exploit a former POSCO [Pohang Steel Company] affiliate company, Poreka [by being awarded contracts to make promotional videos for it]. POSCO president Gwon Ojun will be summoned to appear in front of the prosecution as part of the investigation. POSCO said in a statement: “Mr Gwon has never intervened in the hiring of advertisers, and had no reason to intervene in selling affiliate advertising opportunities.”

The prosecution also believes that Cha embezzled ₩700 million from his advertising agency, Africa Pictures. He is reported to be disposing of assets in preparation to pay potential fines.

Analysis: Unsurprisingly, the Bak Geunhye/Choi Sunshil revelations continue to completely dominate the Korean news media. The latest piece of information will only serve to widen interest and outrage in the story; Cha Euntaek has worked with some of the most well-known acts in Korean pop music, and in a country where culture promotion and investment is very closely overseen by the government, his links to Bak and Choi Sunshil will continue to be closely scrutinised.