S. Korea to begin trial of impeached president’s confidante

Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, is escorted to get on a bus of Ministry of Justice as she leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul

The jailed confidante of disgraced South Korean President Park Geun-hye begins a trial today that will explore a scandal that led to Park’s impeachment after millions took to the streets in protest.

The trial of Choi Soon-sil, Park’s friend of 40 years, is the biggest since the 2014 trial of the crew of a ferry that sank and killed more than 300 people, mostly teenagers. Ten others swept up in the scandal also face trial.

Speculation about Choi dominated local news every day for months, but she is still a mystery. She last appeared in public on Oct. 31, when, after losing a Prada shoe in a crush of media and protesters, she told reporters at the Seoul prosecutors’ office that she had “committed a sin that deserves death.”

What you should know:

THE TRIAL

Today’s hearing at the Seoul Central District Court will review the charges against Choi, who prosecutors say manipulated state affairs and extorted businesses. It will also set the trial schedule. Choi is not required to attend this session.

The trial is open to the public. Worried about a crush of spectators, the court last week raffled admission tickets.

It’s not clear how long the trial will last. Courts normally issue a verdict within six months of indictment, so she’ll likely get a verdict by May if prosecutors don’t bring new charges.

THE CHARGES

Choi is charged with abuse of power, extortion and attempted fraud. If convicted on all charges, she could receive up to 15 years in prison, according to court spokesman Shin Jae-hwan.

Before her arrest, Choi said she that received some of Park’s speeches in advance but that she didn’t know if they included confidential information. She denied the other allegations.

Prosecutors allege that Choi helped pressure 16 companies to donate a total of 77.4 billion won (USD65.6 million) to create two nonprofit foundations, Mir and K-Sports.

According to the prosecution, Park first brought up the idea of launching the foundations and ordered her senior secretary for policy coordination at the time, Ahn Jong-beom, to ask companies to finance their establishment while letting Choi handle the appointment of foundation officials.

Choi allegedly used a top Chinese official’s visit to Seoul to propose pressuring firms to donate quickly to Mir.

Choi has been charged with pressuring Hyundai Motors and the KT telecommunication firm to sign $6 million and $5.7 million worth of ad contracts, respectively, with Playground, an ad agency she ran. She was also charged with pushing Hyundai to buy $930,450 worth of car components from a company owned by an acquaintance.

WHO IS SHE?

Choi, 60, is a daughter of the late Choi Tae-min, a purported cult leader who served as Park’s mentor. Park, 64, is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, a dictator who ruledSouth Korea for 18 years until his 1979 assassination.

The two women became friends in the 1970s, around the time when Park Geun-hye began serving as first lady after her mother was killed during a failed 1974 assassination attempt on Park Chung-hee. Park Geun-hye once headed a patriotic group set up by the elder Choi, while Choi Soon-sil served as head of its college unit.

Park acknowledged her ties with Choi Soon-sil after the scandal broke in October, and described Choi as someone who helped her “when I had difficulties” in the past —
an apparent reference to her parents’ assassinations.

Choi’s ex-husband served as chief of staff for Park when she was a member of parliament before becoming president in early 2013.

OTHERS INDICTED

Among the others indicted are four former government officials.

Ahn, Park’s former economic adviser, allegedly conspired with Park and Choi to extort companies. Another ex-presidential adviser, Jung Ho-sung, has been charged with passing on confidential documents to Choi. Former Vice Culture and Sports Minister Kim Chong allegedly pressured companies to donate money to a winter sports-related foundation run by Choi’s niece, Chang Si-ho, who has also been indicted.

A well-known music video director, Cha Eun-taek, is also on trial for allegedly using his ties with Choi to win key culture-related projects from government agencies.

Park has immunity from prosecution for most crimes while in office. She has acknowledged that she got help from Choi for editing speeches and unspecified “public relations” issues, but has denied any other legal wrongdoing.

The country’s Constitutional Court is reviewing Park’s impeachment. If it rules against her, she’ll be formally unseated and must undergo a direct investigation. Hyung-Jin Kim, Seoul, AP