Overview of political scandal in Korea

(Baonghean.vn) - South Korean politics is shaken by a scandal involving President Park Geun Hye and her close girlfriend Choi Soon-sil. Here is how the incident unfolded from its beginning to the present.

Evening of October 24, South Korea's JTBC cable TV station announced a shocking news to the whole country, Choi Soon-sil, a person who does not hold any position in the government, received more than 200 documents including 44 different speeches and reports of the President. Evidence released by JTBC shows that Ms. Choi Soon-sil edited these documents before Ms. Park delivered them.

Choi Soon-sil in a photo taken at a horse riding center in Incheon, Seoul in 2014. Photo: KOREAN TIMES

October 25Prosecutors investigating the scandal have searched Choi Soon-sil's home, the offices of the Mir Foundation and K-Sports, which she controls, to collect evidence.

October 25, President Park Geun-hye had to officially apologize to the people. According to a report by Realmeter - an independent public opinion polling agency in Korea, the support rate for the first female President of Korea has dropped to 17.5%, the first time it has been below 20%. Of which, up to 70% of the respondents gave negative assessments of her government management situation.

October 26, JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported that data analyzed in Choi Soon-sil's computer showed that she not only edited President Park's speeches but also had access to secret state documents. The newspaper also said that Choi Soon-sil did not appear to have a direct connection with the two funds, but she arranged for relatives to hold important positions in the two funds, and embezzled money through many companies in Germany and South Korea.

South Korean President Park Geun Hye bowed to apologize to the people during a press conference at the Blue House on Tuesday (October 25).

October 27For the first time, Choi Soon-sil admitted to editing Park Geun-hye's speeches and receiving documents sent by the Blue House after Park Geun-hye took office. However, Choi denied any connection with Mir and K-Sports, as well as any bribery allegations.

October 30South Korean President Park Geun-hye has carried out a partial reshuffle of the presidential office amid growing allegations that she let a close friend meddle in important state affairs.

November 2The Office of the President of South Korea has announced the replacement of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs and Minister of Public Security.

November 3The Seoul Central District Court officially issued an arrest warrant after questioning Choi Soon-sil in the presence of prosecutors and her lawyers.

Protesters called for President Park Geun-hye to resign over a corruption scandal.

January 5th1, South Korea deployed thousands of police in the capital Seoul ahead of a massive protest by tens of thousands of people calling for President Park Geun-hye to resign over a political scandal involving her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.

Morning of November 6Ahn Jong-beom, former secretary to South Korean President Park Geun-hye, has been formally arrested after he resigned earlier this week over his involvement in a political scandal involving a longtime friend of Ms. Park.

On November 6, South Korea officially arrested former Secretary of President Park Geun-hye. Photo: Reuters

November 8South Korean President Park Geun-hye has withdrawn her nomination of a new prime minister, facing calls for her to stop the “unilateral” move that is worsening political deadlock caused by a scandal involving her longtime friend.

November 9thSouth Korea's opposition parties have rejected President Park Geun-hye's proposal to choose a new prime minister, dashing hopes of easing the country's current political scandal.

November 12Tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets to protest in the capital Seoul demanding President Park Geun-hye's resignation.

November 14,President Park Geun-hye accepted the proposal of opposition Democratic Party leader Choo Mi-ae to meet on November 15. Choo Mi-ae - Leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has withdrawn the proposal to meet President Park Geun-hye on November 15.

November 16, South Korean opposition forms a united front to pressure the President. South Korean politics continues to be in turmoil as the country's opposition parties join hands in the fight against Ms. Park Geun-hye.

November 20, preliminary investigation results were released by South Korean prosecutors. South Korean prosecutors said that South Korean President Park Geun-hye is suspected of having a "significant" role in a corruption and abuse of power scandal involving her close friend and key aides.

Representative of the Korean Prosecutors' Office Lee Young-Ryeol announced the conclusion of the investigation at a press conference in Seoul on November 20. Photo: YONHAP/TTXVN

November 20, South Korean President Park Geun-hye's legal representative - Mr. Yoo Yeong-ha - has rejected the results of the prosecutor's investigation into the scandal involving Ms. Park's close friend.

November 21The Democratic Party of Korea will consider impeaching President Park Geun-hye and the issue of forming an interim cabinet at an appropriate time.

November 22, The South Korean Cabinet has approved a bill to appoint an independent commission to investigate President Park Geun-hye's role in a political scandal...

November 23, Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong and Secretary for Civil Affairs of the President of South Korea Choi Jai-kyeong have submitted their resignations.

On November 24, Lotte and SK group offices were searched.

November 24,Lotte Group, SK Group and South Korean government agencies have been raided in connection with the recent political scandal.

November 24,The former chairwoman of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party has declared that "President Geun-hye betrayed the Party and the people" and called for her impeachment.

November 26, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in the capital Seoul to demand the President resign or face trial. About 1.5 million South Koreans joined a protest in the capital Seoul, South Korea, to demand that President Park Geun-hye resign or face trial over her involvement in corruption scandals. Meanwhile, about 500,000 others joined protests in cities surrounding the capital Seoul.

In a televised statement, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said her resignation would depend on the level of impeachment and the decision of the National Assembly - Photo: Getty Images

November 29Top lawmakers in South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party have called on President Park Geun-hye to resign following recent political scandals.

November 30, Park Geun-hye announced that she will step down when the National Assembly takes measures to transfer power in a way that minimizes power vacuum and chaos.

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