Considering how long this has dragged out I am still waiting for the definitive evidence that Park Geun-hye was helping Choi Soon-sil shake people down for money for her daughter’s equestrian training. Until the definitive evidence is shown then Park has a point that this is “political revenge”.
Former President Park Geun-hye leaves the courtroom after attending a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap
Former President Park Geun-hye said Monday that she has “lost faith” in the nation’s justice system, claiming she is nothing but a victim of political revenge.
Her remarks came during a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court after it decided last week to extend her detention for another six months.
“I was supposed to be released today,” she said during the hearing at the court.“But the court issued another arrest warrant ... I can’t accept its decision.”
In protest of the decision, her lawyers resigned the same day.
“My lawyers and I felt helpless,” she said.“I have lost faith that the court will do a fair job in accordance with the Constitution and conscience.”
This was the first time she has spoken publicly since her trial began six months ago.After being ousted and arrested in March over a massive influence-peddling scandal involving her friend Choi Soon-sil, she barely said anything except yes or no whenever cameras were around.
Park insisted on her innocence, saying, “I did not comply with requests to favor anyone while in office.” She also claimed the trial has shown that various suspicions surrounding her are false.
Then, in an apparent message aimed at President Moon Jae-in, the rival candidate she beat in the 2012 presidential election, and his governing Democratic Party of Korea, Park claimed she is just a victim of political strife.
“I hope I will be the last victim of political revenge in the name of the rule of law,” she said.
“The last six months have been a horrible and miserable time for me.I had trust in a person who later betrayed me.As a result, I have lost my honor and everything else in life.” [Korea Times]
You can read the rest at the link, but the Korean left has been going after former conservative President Lee Myung-bak as well to get him thrown in jail. The Korean left has longed blamed conservatives for uncovering former President Roh Moo-hyun’s corruption which led to his suicide shortly after his presidency.
