A picture taken by a passenger shows Choi Soon-sil walking at an airport. [Yonhap News Photo]
South Korea's scandal-stricken President Park Geun-hye sacked eight aides Sunday in a bid to assuage public anger, a day after thousands of people staged a street rally calling for her resignation and impeachment.
The president accepted the resignation of eight aides, including her chief of staff Lee Won-jong and four other senior secretaries in charge of policy coordination, political affairs, civil affairs and public affairs, Park's spokesman Jung Youn-kuk said, adding the shake-up reflects Park's "deep recognition of the gravity of the current situation".
Park's decision came hours after Choi Soon-sil, who is at the heart of a widening scandal, returned home from Europe to face an investigation by state prosecutors.
“As her attorney, I think the case must be thoroughly investigated and the truth be told to prevent any further eruption of speculation that goes beyond fantasy," Choi's lawyer Lee Kyung-jae told reporters.
Choi, seen as Park's long-time friend who is suspected of meddling in state affairs, will cooperate fully with an investigation by prosecutors, the lawyer said, adding she could be questioned by prosecutors from Monday.
The 60-year-old daughter of a religious cult leader has exploited her ties with Park to interfere in key state affairs without holding any govenment post. She is also suspected of siphoning off money from two public funds.
On Saturday, prosecutors searched the homes of senior presidential aides suspected of interacting with Choi. Presidential security guards blocked a separate attempt to raid the offices of the aides in the presidential mansion, citing the need to protect state secrets.
Thousands of activists and citizens took to the streets in downtown Seoul Saturday, demanding President Park step down. Protests were also held in several other cities but no serious clashes or injuries were reported.
The scandal has sent Park’s approval ratings to record lows, triggering concern about the early arrival of her lame duck status ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Park admitted on Tuesday that she had provided Choi drafts of her speeches for editing, but her televised apology fanned suspicions that Choi may have had significant influence over Park
Choi has been portrayed as a Rasputin-like figure whose influence extended to editing presidential speeches and advising on key appointments and policy issues. Grigori Rasputin was a Russian peasant, mystical faith healer, and trusted friend of the family of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
