SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s president can be investigated in a snowballing influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime friend, the prime minister-designate said Thursday.
The comments by Kim Byong-joon came as opposition lawmakers and activists stepped up their demands for prosecutors to directly investigate President Park Geun-hye to get to the bottom of the scandal that has plunged the country into a political turmoil. One latest opinion survey showed Park’s approval rating plummeted to about 9 percent.
South Korean media speculate Park’s friend, Choi Soon-sil, pulled government affairs from the shadows and pushed businesses to donate millions of dollars to two foundations that she controlled, although she didn’t have any government post.
On Thursday, Kim told a televised conference that he thinks it’s possible to have Park investigated because “all nationals are equal before the law.” But he said the procedures and methods of any such probe of the head of state must be carefully done.
Kim there are different interpretations of a constitutional provision that grants sitting presidents immunity from criminal lawsuits unless they are accused of serious crimes such as treason. He didn’t elaborate, but his comments likely reflected a view by some scholars that the constitution disallows an indictment and other legal steps beyond an investigation or questioning.