Former South Korea president interrogated by prosecutors News
Former South Korea president interrogated by prosecutors

Former South Korean president Park Geun-Hye [BBC profile] met with The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office [official website] for several hours on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing corruption probe. Park began the day by giving an apology [Arirang report] in front of the media. Park previously refused to speak [Yonhap report] with prosecutors, citing her presidential immunity. However, since her removal from office, she has agreed to cooperate with the investigation into the misappropriation of funds resulting in allegations of coercion and bribery [JURIST report]. According to local sources [Korea Herald report], the interrogation lasted more than 20 hours, was not taped and did not result in any confession. During the meeting Park had an opportunity to review the complaints against her and respond to the allegations. Prosecutors will decide [DNA report] whether to charge Park this week.

Earlier this month South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld parliament’s decision to impeach [JURIST report] Park over a scandal related to government bribes paid by Samsung. In February Samsung’s head Lee Jae-yong was arrested [JURIST report] on charges of bribery and undue influence in connection with the scandal. Five Samsung executives denied charges [JURIST report] of bribery, embezzlement and corruption that were leveled against them in connection with Park. Park may also be subject to charges that may relate to the indictment [JURIST report] of former culture minister Cho Yoon-sun and former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon over the coercion, abuse of power and perjury due to suppression of artists involved with the impeachment process