Influence-Peddling Scandal Rocks South Korean President
- Park faces public pressure to resign after televised apology
- President’s friend at center of influence-peddling allegations
Protestors wearing masks of South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, right and Choi Soon-Sil pose for a performance in Seoul on Oct. 27. South Korean prosecutors on October 27 set up a high-powered 'task-force' to probe a widening scandal involving alleged influence-peddling by a close confidante of President Park Geun-Hye. Choi Soon-Sil, an enigmatic woman with no government position, was already part of an investigation into allegations that she used her relationship with the president to strong-arm conglomerates into multi-million dollar donations to two non-profit foundations. / AFP / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
Photographer: Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty ImagesSouth Korean President Park Geun-hye is facing her biggest political crisis since coming to power in 2013. Allegations that her old friend, Choi Soon-sil, peddled influence through their relationship have added to public disenchantment with the nation’s first female president, sinking Park’s approval rating to an all-time low. More than 40 percent of respondents to a poll this week said she should step down or be impeached.
JTBC cable TV has reported that Choi had access to documents related to a cabinet meeting and edited some of Park’s presidential speeches. Park made an unusual apology Tuesday in a nationally televised address in which she said she consulted Choi on "certain documents." Opposition lawmakers claim that the private citizen used her relationship with Park to raise funds from a business lobby group for two foundations she controls.