Prosecution chief should bring back Choi Soon-sil first

Prosecution chief should bring back Choi Soon-sil first. October. 27, 2016 07:09. by 송평인기자 pisong@donga.com.

The prosecution raided nine places, including two nonprofit foundations allegedly linked to a controversial figure with close ties to President Park Geun-hye amid a widening scandal over corruption suspicions. The raid came 27 days after a civic group filed a complaint against the foundations. Until recently, the prosecution had not shown any strong willingness to investigate the case. It was not until President Park called for stern punishment of those involved in the scandal in a speech to the National Assembly last Friday that the prosecution started to expand the investigation team and summon those involved in the scandal. However, the investigators were lukewarm about seeking court warrants for raids. While the prosecution was dragging its feet, journalists are finding truths about the case, obtaining the computer of Choi Soon-sil, a key figure in the scandal and the president's close confidante, and interviewing relevant people. It is pitiful that the public's confidence in the prosecution is at the rock bottom.

Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, urged the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday to order the law enforcement agencies to repatriate Choi, who is reportedly staying in Germany. Rather than urging the prosecution to summon Choi, he called on the presidential office to order the prosecution to do so, suggesting that even the floor leader of the ruling party regards the prosecution as the president's servants who do not act until being ordered to do so. The public want to see Choi be brought to justice for meddling in state affairs. With or without Cheong Wa Dae's order, it is the prosecution's job to focus on having Choi, who fled to Germany with the key to all the suspicions, repatriated to Korea.

Even if the political circles agree on appointing an independent counsel, it will likely take more than one month for an independent investigation team to be set up and start working. Contrary to President Park's explanation, a slew of media reports have been coming out on indications that Choi had access to personnel information and even confidential government documents until very recently. In order to soothe the public resentment, it is imperative to verify how much of the media reports are true. The prosecution has much more manpower resources and knowhow for investigation. The prosecution should leave no stones unturned to the extent that an independent counsel cannot find anything else. It is a matter of the prosecution's pride that there are calls for an independent investigation despite the existence of the prosecution. The prosecution should prove that it exists for the nation, not for those in power.