South Korea's
presidential scandal
South
Korea's parliament has voted on 9 December to impeach President Park Geun-hye
over a corruption scandal.
Ms
Park stepped back from her duties following the vote and her case is now being
heard by the constitutional court.
The
scandal, which has generated huge protests, centres on her relationship with an
old friend, and has brought allegations of cult activities, influence-peddling
and leaks of classified information.
What
is the relationship at the heart of the scandal?
In
1974, Park Geun-hye's mother was killed by a North Korean spy who had intended
to kill Ms Park's father, then-military leader Park Chung-hee. Ms Park, then
aged 22, became a stand-in first lady for her widowed father.
It
was then she got to know Choi Tae-min, a pseudo-Christian leader who set up a cult
called The Church of Eternal Life. He said he had been visited by the soul of
Ms Park's late mother who asked him to guide her.
He
became Ms Park's mentor, while also amassing considerable wealth and power.
When
President Park senior was assassinated by his head of intelligence in 1979,
there was speculation it was because the spy chief was worried the president
was being manipulated by the man dubbed "the Korean Rasputin".
By
this point Ms Park was firm friends with Mr Choi's daughter, Choi Soon-sil. Their
critics believe Ms Choi perpetuated her father's habits.
Why
has the friendship become problematic?
On
20 November, Ms Choi was charged with various offences, including abuse of
authority, coercion, attempted coercion and attempted fraud. She is now on
trial.
Few
claims have been off-limits in the media coverage, with some reports going as
far as suggesting the president is a puppet who hosted shamanist rituals at the
presidential compound. But many of the lurid claims are unsubstantiated.
Ms
Choi - who is in custody - is accused of using her presidential connections to
pressure companies for millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit
foundations she controlled.
The
claims have even swept up Samsung in the investigation - the firm is one of
eight that has admitted making payments to the foundation, but denies it did so
in return for any favours.
President
Park is alleged to have been personally involved, instructing Ms Choi and two
presidential aides to collect money for the launch of Ms Choi's foundations,
according to prosecution documents submitted to the court.
Ms
Choi is also accused of having received large numbers of confidential
government documents from Ms Park, via an aide. These allegedly included
information about ministerial candidates and North Korea.
There
are even claims Ms Choi took advantage of the president's wardrobe budget -
buying cheap outfits and keeping the change.
What
do the two women say?
They
have both apologised, but it remains unclear exactly what for.
When
she was first questioned in October, Ms Choi said she had committed an
"unpardonable crime", though her lawyer said this was not a legal
admission of guilt.
President
Park has herself admitted some lapses. She says she did consult Ms Choi for
advice, and that she helped her edit her speeches, but that this stopped once
she had a team of advisers in place.
Witnesses
have claimed that Ms Choi received briefings and official papers long after
that occurred. Documents were also discovered on an unsecured tablet computer
found in an old office of Ms Choi's.
But
the tone of the president's pronouncements has changed over time. She began
with opaque apologies: "Regardless of what the reason may be, I am sorry
that the scandal has caused national concern and I humbly apologise to the
people."
But
she has moved on to "heartbroken" public confessions of naivety:
"Sad thoughts trouble my sleep at night. I realise that whatever I do, it
will be difficult to mend the hearts of the people, and then I feel a sense of
shame."
She
had said she was willing to be questioned by investigators, but has so far
resisted their attempts to speak to her.
Her
spokesman said the prosecutors' allegation that she colluded with Ms Choi was
"deeply regrettable" and "but a house of cards built on repeated
imagination".
So
how is Samsung involved?
Prosecutors
allege Lee Jae-yong, heir to South Korea's largest conglomerate and its de
facto chief, approved payments of 43bn won ($36.4m, £30.3m) to Ms Choi's
foundations in exchange for government favours.
In
particular, prosecutors are investigating whether the payments bought support
for a controversial merger of two Samsung affiliates.
Some
investors opposed the deal, saying one of the affiliates's shares were
undervalued, but support from a major shareholder, the National Pension Service
(NPS), helped the deal go through.
The
official who oversaw the NPS has since been charged with putting pressure on
managers to approve the merger, which strengthened Mr Lee's control over a key
part of the conglomerate.
Prosecutors
are seeking an arrest warrant for Mr Lee. Samsung has rejected allegations of
wrongdoing.
Is
anyone else involved?
Several
former presidential aides have been investigated.
An
Chong-bum, Ms Park's former senior secretary for policy co-ordination, has been
charged with abuse of authority, coercion and attempted coercion, and Jung
Ho-sung is accused of passing classified presidential documents to Ms Choi.
Local
media have also been busy finding colourful associates of Ms Choi who were
close to the president, including various celebrities and her personal trainer,
who was appointed as a presidential aide.
Does
the impeachment vote end Ms Park's career?
Not
quite.
The
vote was overwhelming - 234 members of parliament voted to impeach her in a
secret ballot, with only 56 standing by her, meaning some members of her ruling
Saenuri party voted in favour of the motion.
Ms
Park has declined to appear before the constitutional court, but under the law
the court can proceed regardless. If six of the nine judges endorse the vote,
she will be removed from office.
Meanwhile
Hwang Kyo-ahn, the country's prime minister, is serving as interim president.
If
the judges rule against Ms Park, new elections must be held within 60 days.
Who:
South Korea's parliament and President Park Geun-hye
What:
to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal
When:
on 9 December
Key words:
Parliament 國會；議會
Impeach控告；檢舉；彈劾
Corruption墮落；腐化；貪汙；賄賂
Amass 積聚（財富），積累
Perpetuate 使永久存在；使不朽
Fraud欺騙（行為）；詭計；騙局
Rituals儀式，典禮；例行公事；老規矩；習慣
Unsubstantiated 未經證實的，無事實根據的
Unpardonable不可原諒的，不可饒恕的
Pronouncement 宣言；公告
Confession承認；坦白，供認；供狀
Prosecutor檢察官，公訴人
