Former top aide to Park questioned on corruption

Woo Byung-woo

Woo Byung-woo, a former top presidential aide, was questioned by a special prosecutors’ team investigating an explosive scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye on Saturday.

“I will faithfully respond to prosecutors’ questions,” Woo, Park’s former senior secretary for civil affairs, told reporters after arriving at the special prosecutors’ office in southern Seoul.

He was summoned by the special prosecutors on allegations of aiding and abetting the wide-ranging corruption of Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend to the president.

Woo is under investigation on charges of dereliction of duty over suspicions he overlooked Choi’s alleged irregularities while serving the president by flexing his authority to demote or fire officials who attempted to block Choi’s activities.

Choi’s wide-ranging alleged crimes, including having access to classified material and meddling in state policy, led to the impeachment of Park by parliament in December. The impeachment trial is currently taking place at the Constitutional Court.

Woo is also suspected of spearheading the ousting of former special presidential inspector Lee Seok-soo, who resigned after looking into Choi’s alleged unwarranted involvement in state affairs.

Investigators are also expected to grill Woo on allegedly embezzling funds from a real estate company run by his family. He is also purported to have peddled influence to help his son secure an easy job during his mandatory military service.

YONHAP