Shaman Scandal Plunders South Korean Society
After weeks of speculation about the political influences of Choi Soon-sil on South Korean President Park Geun-hye, South Korean media agency JTBC reported on October 24 that it obtained Ms. Choi’s abandoned tablet PC containing 44 of President Park’s speeches. Effectively spurring a political scandal, the agency confirmed such speculations by reporting that Ms. Choi, a shamanistic cult leader’s daughter, had received and made edits to drafts of the President’s speeches in advance of several of her appearances.
Ms. Choi faces multiple other allegations: exerting influence over some of President Park’s appointments of her senior secretaries, receiving classified government memos, utilizing her proximity to the President to ensure preferential treatment for her daughter at an elite university, attaining unrestricted access to the Blue House through a secret passageway reserved exclusively for her, and applying pressures against South Korean conglomerates like Samsung to donate $70 million to her foundations, according to the The Washington Post. Prosecutors summoned Ms. Choi for an extensive investigation, and the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for her over abuse of authority and attempted fraud.
“Power in this country doesn’t belong to a legitimately elected leader,” wrote Koo Se-woong, an editor for Korean Expose. “Instead, the President is in thrall to a shadowy figure who pursues her private agenda.”
In an effort to mitigate the havoc brought about by the scandal, President Park carried out a major reshuffle of her cabinet. She dismissed her Chief of Staff and several senior secretaries, including Ahn Chong-bum, who is charged with funneling funds to Ms. Choi’s foundation. President Park immediately appointed a new Prime Minister and Chief of Staff.
Facing a national outcry, President Park also delivered two public apologies on October 25 and November 4. In the first 90-second address, she explained that Ms. Choi had aided her by shaping messages for her numerous political campaigns, and has assisted her under the same intentions during her presidency. President Park remained on stage much longer during her second appearance and stated that she will cooperate with the prosecutorial probe “if necessary.”
Her apologies have done little, if anything, to redeem herself. As The Washington Post noted, South Korean citizens have long felt disenchanted by her disconnected leadership that relies on few advisers. Gallup Korea reported that President Park’s approval ratings plunged to five percent, the lowest ever recorded by a South Korean President.
At this rate, South Korea may witness one of the largest scale of civic action since the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement demonstrations in 2008. An estimated 30,000 citizens have been gathering for rallies at Seoul’s hub, demanding President Park’s resignation. Supported by both students and faculty, over 100 universities, including her alma mater and those within her hometown, have issued statements condemning the President’s actions.