South 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.
What are the allegations?
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.
Who is Choi?
Choi is the daughter of a man that founded a volunteer group that Park helped run. They formed a friendship when Park became acting first lady for her father, Park Chung-hee, after her mother died during an assassination attempt on the dictator in 1974. Park has long been hounded by allegations that she allowed the Chois to take advantage of her high profile to extract money from businesses -- claims she denied in her media address. In an interview in Germany, Choi told South Korea’s Segye Ilbo on Wednesday that she wanted to help Park “out of faith" and was sorry for causing the president harm. She told the newspaper she didn’t know the documents were classified when she received them
Why is this shaking South Korea?
Park’s hastily arranged address fanned suspicions that Choi may have meddled more extensively in government affairs, as well as peddling influence over businesses. Students and civic groups are protesting, demanding a full investigation and response from Park over the allegations.
