US State Department Slams President Park's Push For Standardized History

The ruling party which had the majority in the National Assembly and President Park rammed a measure to standardize Korean History and use only a government approved textbook to teach Korean history. The opposition parties, most professors and teachers were against the move.

Many suspected that Park was trying to change references to her father's presidency to paint a much rosier picture.

Chosun Ilbo: U.S. Rights Report Slams Korea's Official History Textbooks

Korea Times: Like Dictator Father, President Park: No Remorse 

Another Possible Bribery Case Against President Park

About every five years, I think, the Korean Customs Office reviews and awards the licenses for duty free shops in Seoul. After the duty free licenses were awarded to five companies this year, the government announced that it would award more licenses and were accepting applications. The five companies that were previously awarded licenses strongly complained about the added competition considering most of the new duty free shops were operation at a loss.

Prosecutors have found it suspicious that President Park met with the Chairmen of Lotte and SKT, both of which had lost duty free licenses this year. Lotte won a license for their main shop in the center of Seoul, but lost the license for their other shop at Lotte World. SKT had lost the license for their shop at Walker Hill Hotel.

A few weeks after the meeting, the government announced that more duty free licenses would be issued. Choi Soon-sil and Presidential Secretaries called on Lotte and SKT and requested that several million dollars in donations be made to two sports foundations controlled by Choi Soon-sil through board members appointed by her.

SKT said that they could not donate any more money. Lotte donated 7 billion won, but had it returned the day before a search warrant was carried out at Lotte.

The prosecutors just carried out additional search warrants at Lotte, SKT, Korean Customs Office and the Ministry of Planning and Budget in order to find evidence of influence peddling and the more serious charge of bribery against President Park.

Yesterday, prosecutors found evidence that ex-Senior Secretary for Civil (domestic) Affairs, Woo Byung-woo had received reports on ex-Presidential Secretary Ahn Jong-bom regarding influence peddling and coercion, but ignored them. They are looking into other allegations and many expect that Woo Byung-woo will be arrested soon.


Korea Herald: Prosecution trying to prove Park’s bribery charges

Ruling Party Approval Drops To 12%, President 4%

The Saenuri Party's approval rating has drop by more than half from 35% to 12% and members have finally started to call for President Park's impeachment despite strong opposition from pro-Park members.

At present count, Saenuri Party assemblymen say that over 40 will vote to impeach President Park along with opposition parties which will enable the impeachment measure to pass the assembly. The measure is expected to be voted on in early December.

Over 1.5 million demonstrators in Seoul and 500,000 in other cities are expected to brave freezing temperatures and rain in nationwide protests this Saturday.

Chosun Ilbo: Lawmakers to Vote on Impeaching Park 

The Hankyoreh: President Park May Refuse To Accept Resignations

President Park Approves Independent Counsel To Investigate Her

The National Assembly passed a bill authorizing the formation of an independent counsel to investigate the Choi Soon-sil scandal, what President Park was doing on the day of the Sewol Ferry tragedy and other scandals involving the President.

President Park signed the bill into effect and plans to send it back to the Assembly by this afternoon.

Yonhap News: Park signs bill for independent probe 

Two Rappers Sentenced To Prison For Marijuana In Seoul

More drugs arrests were reported as usual. A two year prison sentence for one rapper
and six months for another because they used marijuana.

People usually get probation, what happened? They probably didn't reveal their source. Anyway, they got suspended sentences, so they don't go to jail.

The one that got a six month suspended sentence was busted for smoking in Thailand in 2015. He must have tested positive in a drug test in Korea and said that he had smoked it in Thailand.

Yonhap News: S. Korean rappers get jail terms for marijuana charges 

Under South Korean law, use of marijuana carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million won ($40,000).

Why President Park Owes Choi Soon-sil

An article in the Chosun Ilbo (Daily News) alleges the Choi family gave several hundred thousands of dollars to President Park's election campaigns for the National Assembly in 1998 and 2000.

Chosun Ilbo: Choi Soon-sil's Family 'Bankrolled Park's Entry into Politics'

Prosecutors Raid Presidential Secretary Office

Prosecutors just announced that they have evidence that Woo Byung-woo, ex-Presidential Senior Secretary for Domestic Affairs was criminally negligent in his duties, and as of this moment, are carrying out a search warrant of the Special Department Internal Affairs inside the Senior Secretary's Office for Domestic Affairs.

Woo Byung-woo resigned last month, and his replacement's resignation was just announced today.

Korea Times: Prosecution raids presidential office 

Korea Times: Prosecutors raid NPS, Samsung 

Joongang Daily: ex-Presidential Chief Secretary Kim Ki-choon Tied To Choi Soon-sil Family

Farmers are driving their tractors to Seoul for the demonstrations this Saturday.

Organizers expect over 1.5 million to protest in Seoul and 500,000 in other cities.

Hankyoreh News: University student councils planning class boycotts 

Prosecutors Have Evidence To Turn Candlelights Into Torches

After the Presidential Office accused the Prosecutors of bias in their investigations and calling the charges listed in the recent indictments "figments of the imagination", there are reports that prosecutors are saying that they already have enough evidence to turn the candlelight demonstrations into torch bearing protests. They say that if they release 10 seconds of the recording between an aide and President Park, candlelight protests would turn into torch bearing ones.

Pretty heated exchange. Unheard of, in my lifetime.

Media is now focusing attention on the other two major conspirators in the scandals, Kim Ki-chun, ex-Presidential Chief of Staff, and Woo Byung-woo, ex-Senior Secretary for Domestic Affairs.

Nobody has found any evidence against these two, so far. However, if they did not know what was going on, they are, at the very least, guilty of gross neglect.

Yesterday, the Gyung-gi Province Governor, Nam Kyung-pil and ruling party assemblyman, Kim Yong-tae held a press conference and announced that they have left the Saenuri Party.

Just on the news, the Minister of Justice, Kim Hyung-ung, and the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, Choi Jae-kyung just resigned.

These are the two people who report to the President on police, justice, and intelligence matters and take the President's orders. If they continue to help the President hide, then they are complicit. No choice.

Korea Times: President must take witness stand

Dong-Ah Daily: Presidential staff must not assist in president's personal criminal defense

Most of the major universities have announced a boycott of classes from this Friday, saying if weekend protests are not enough, then they need to do more.

Eight more ruling party members just announced that they are leaving the ruling Saenuri Party.

Prosecutors Seeking To Charge President Park With 3rd Party Bribery

After carrying out search warrants at Samsung, Korea Horseracing Authority, Korea Equestrian Federation and related persons' residences, Korean prosecutors are now serving a search warrant at the Korean National Pension Fund.

Korea Times: Prosecution raids Samsung, state pension service

If the prosecutors can find evidence of outside influence in the Pension Fund's casting vote on a Samsung merger, then the President is probably looking at 10 years to life imprisonment, which is what many Koreans are demanding. That is the penalty for 3rd party bribery involving over 100 million won (about $9 million).

In addition to donations to two questionable foundations, Samsung was the only group to donate money to another company owned by Choi Soon-sil, which she embezzled after changing the company name and to the Korea Equestrian Federation. The embezzled money was used to buy a hotel, house a million dollar horse, training and expenses for Choi Soon-sil's daughter. Samsung also pledged to donate around $20 million more in preparation for the Olympics to the Equestrian Federation.

Around the same time, Samsung was trying to push a merger of two companies in order to pass on control of the group to the present vice-Chairman, Lee Jae-yong. The Korean National Pension Fund controlled shares of one of the companies. Many were opposed since the merger would undervalue the worth of the company shares. The Korean National Pension Fund has lost over several hundred million dollars in the deal up to date due to the low share exchange rate used in the merger.

The merger was between Samsung Trading and Cheil Textiles (Samsung Company, many companies named Cheil are Samsung) in 2015.

When any major deal goes down, then there are studies, meetings and approvals. If the decision was due to outside pressure, there surely will be evidence to prove this.

The firm consulting the National Pension Fund just announced that they recommended against the merger. 

The Korea Horseracing Authority let Choi Soon-sil use its facilities free of charge, which is unheard of. The president of the federation is an ex-Samsung president, I think. 

At the Chaum Hospital, they are reportedly telling staff to delete files. 

The Chaum Hospital and a related company is allegedly to have received special favors from President Park. Park frequentely visited the hospital and spa without paying before she became President. She continued to receive prescription by sending her friend, Choi Soon-sil, in her place, according to hospital records.

Another damning case is the Lotte Group. They had already donated to the questionable foundations, but the President allegedly asked the Lotte Chairman to donate another 7.5 billion won (a little less than $7 million) to one of the foundations. Lotte did, but one the day before a search warrant at Lotte, the foundation returned the money.

Everyone suspects a senior presidential aide, Woo Byung-woo informed another aide, Ahn jong-bom, who called the foundation. The foundation called Lotte and said they were returning the money because the land they wanted to purchase was not available or some story like that.

So, the prosecutors should find something. The underlings always have that "it's not my job" mentality which helps greatly. 

More President Park Lies Unvealed

When the first scandal on influence peddling (the Chung Yun-hae scandal (Choi Soon-sil's ex-husband and ex-Presidential Secretary) broke, President Park stated through her spokesman that the rumors were groundless. Eventually, the people who reported the crimes were prosecuted and forced out of office.

When the Choi Soon-sil scandal broke out in April, President Park again stated that the rumors were figments of the imagination and completely false.

In President Park's first apology, after the laptop with classified presidential files was found, she said the foundations involved in the scandal were established after discussions and consensus with business groups and that the business groups made the donations voluntarily.

Under questioning by prosecutors, Lee Seung-chul (ex-vice chaiman of the Federatiojn of Korean Industries) said he was ordered by ex-Presidential aide Ahn Jong-bom to collect donations for the foundations. He had previously told the press that all such rumors were false and that it was his idea to collect donations.

In the same apology, President said that Choi Soon-sil only helped her with editing speeches and promotional materials during the beginning of her presidency until her aides were settled in.

In recordings and notes found during searches, it was revealed that President Park asked Choi Soon-sil's advice or approval on ministerial appointments, an intelligence job appointment, and other government agenda. There also was evidence that Choi Soon-sil asked the President to appoint acquaintances to several government posts and private sector posts.

Hankyoreh News: Even Pres. Park’s public apology was riddled with falsehoods 

President Park has lied so many times that everyone in Korea knows, including her. My guess is that she realizes by now that they have enough evidence to put her away and is just trying to delay prison as long as possible.

On the news, they reported that almost all past Presidents raised money for various foundations they supported. However, they did not mention that none of those foundations raised donations in such a short time (most within 24 hours of establishment of the foundation). Also, none of the past Presidents were recorded giving orders on raising donations and other details. In addition, no one had tried to so blatantly embezzle money from the foundations.

Another Arrest In The Park Scandal

After weeks of questioning, an arrest warrant has been issued for ex-Vice Minister of Culture, Kim Jong who is accused of abuse of power and giving unauthorized access to classified information. He is the third government official to be arrested.

Prosecutors also applied for an arrest warrant for former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs, Cho Won-dong, who is accused of coercing CJ Group to dismiss vice-Chairwoman, Lee Mie-kyung.

Chang Si-ho, a niece of Choi Soon-sil, was arrested days earlier for alleged embezzlement of millions of dollars from her sports center. Samsung and the govermment had donated millions of dollars to the sports center.

Korea Times: Ex-vice culture minister arrested over influence-peddling scandal

Many many more arrests are expected.

Olympian Swimmer Park Tae-hwan Reveals Existence Of Recording

Olympian swimmer, Park Tae-hwan was found guilty of using banned substances in very suspicious circumstances several years ago. A doctor injected him with a banned substance without informing him. Some suspect that someone persuaded the doctor to do this.

Anyway, he was banned from competition, but his ban ended and he was eligible for the Olympics. Suddenly, the Korean swimming body made a rule banning athletes who use banned substances from competing for 3 years.

Park contested this rule in domestic courts and international court and won.

Park Tae-hwan held a press conference and said that Kim Jong, the ex-vice minister of culture (arrest warrant pending), pressured him to give up on competing in the Olympics offering him a professorship, sponsorship from major corporations among other things.

Kim Jong has stated that Park Tae-hwan is lying and that he met Park only to give encouragement.

It is rumored that someone wanted Park Tae-hwan out of the Olympic team to make room for another swimmer.

Park Tae-hwan said he recorded the conversation and will make it available to the public soon.

Korea Times: Olympian Swimmer Park Another Victim In President Park Scandal 

Lead By Corruption and Coercion

If the claims against President Park are true, then she set a fine example for many government employees and politicians around her. I am almost certain that they followed her example considering they are talking and acting exactly like her.

There are still people in the government eagerly accepting President Park's orders. I sure as hell hope they are not re-elected and/or are fired from their positions. How can they say they didn't know, when there were rumors and scandals for years? They always say the rumors are groundless, figment of the imagination and threaten legal action, even today.

President Park cannot explain away her lies. She may think she can. Many would say that if a President blatantly lies to the people, then that person is unfit to rule and should be considered mentally unstable.

Two Years Later President Park Reveals Her Whereabouts

Two years after the Sewol Ferry tragedy, where about 300 students died trapped inside a ferry over the course of several days, the Presidential Office just announced yesterday that President Park was working from her private residence in the Blue House during that day.

If that is all that happened, why did they refuse to answer any questions on President Park's whereabouts for over two years?

Korea Herald: Park was in residence during Sewol disaster

Many feel that the investigations into the ferry disaster were hindered and are still demanding for a fair and thorough investigation along with punishment of those involved as only lower level officials were punished.

And why does it always seem like prosecutors are going after protesters, union leaders and opposition figures?

The Hankyoreh News: Prosecutors seek two-year sentence for Sewol march organizer 

The Hankyoreh News is well respected in Korea for not being afraid to print the truth and has been voted the most trustworthy news organization in Korea for 9 years consecutively including 2016. 

Wikipedia: The Hankyoreh News

A Tactic Used By Dictator Park

When Park Jung-hee he ran into opposition or scandals, they used to arrest lots of actors and singers for marijuana. This would make headlines in those days and divert attention from the scandals.

In the past six months, we have seen almost daily news of drug busts and several thousand have been rounded up. Deja-vu. Just coincidence?

Today's headline on Yonhap News TV, "785 people arrested for drugs".

On Korean TV, I saw only one report about pot legalization in California and it seemed like reefer madness all over again.

Another favorite tactic was to frame opposition figures as communist sympathizers or spies. A tradition that resonates even today.

Between 2-3 million are expected to demonstrate against Park this Saturday. President Park and her cronies are confident that the protests will eventually peter out and her army of "guest commentators" on TV news shows are out in full force defending the President and trying to stir up indignation. Her army of protesters (allegedly backed by the Federation of Korean Industries which is allegedly controlled by Presidential aides) are out on the streets.

Korea Times: Park supporters 'hit JTBC reporters' 

A great way to deflect attention would be for President Park to come out in favor of medicinal marijuana and say that research into medicinal uses should be allowed. She could also call for legislation to allow export zones (maybe where unemployed old people could work there) to grow it for export to the US, and other countries. That would definitely create a lot of controversy and stir up emotions. Pharmaceutical and alcoholic beverage companies would go to war!

Pointing Out President Park's Lies

A traditionally very pro-Park (my opinion, most media in Korea were pro-Park, until very recently) Korean TV channel, YTN, pointed some more lies that President Park made in her apology speech.

She said only received help from Choi Soon-sil until her presidential aides were selected and settled in. (This was just after the laptop was discovered and in the laptop, only the early part of her presidency was implicated.)

YTN reported that prosecutors are said to have evidence that Park and Choi communicated up until April of this year.

President Park said that donations to the foundations, in question, were completely voluntary on the part of the business groups. In the recording and notes, President Park repeatedly reprimands people for their slowness in getting donations and increases the donation amount arbitrarily. All the business group chairmen say they felt coerced, since they were getting frequent requests to donate after the President asked them to donate.

Also, originally, Lee Sung-chul,  the vice-chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries said he took it upon himself to gather donations for the foundations. When questioned by prosecutors he said that Ahn Jong-bom, an ex-Presidential aide under arrest, ordered him to say that and that he was ordered by Ahn to gather donations.

Hankyoreh News: FKI Cannot Hide Lies 

There are more lies, seemingly endless, that will be revealed in the coming weeks.

President Park through her spokesman is saying they have no proof, the allegations are completely unfounded. the prosecutors made the indictment public without a through investigation (Park refused to be questioned, so they are claiming that the investigations were incomplete). In order to maintain stability, she will continue acting as President.

Hankyoreh News: Business Groups Pressured to Make Donations

She must be deranged. Well, actually, she is just trying to delay prison. You can't blame her for that. It is expected.

She appointed 3 or 4 of the justices on the Supreme Court which has to rule on any impeachment decisions, so she is saying "Impeach me, if you can.". If the people are watching, then they have to be unbiased, right? If they have chronic cognitive dissonance, then they will justify their decision in a Park-like manner.

They almost got away with all this, except for one forgotten laptop with presidential documents and itineraries on it.

This was reported way back in April, and it took this long to bring an indictment.
Korea Times: FKI Involvement In Scandal and Funding Extreme Demonstrators

There are some pro-Park demonstrators, but in the last demonstrations, it was reported that some attacked a JTBC news crew last Saturday. I want to know why up to 10% of the pro-Park demonstrators wear hats and sunglasses? Cops, detectives, undercover, and agents like sunglasses.

Do they still receive funding from FKI?

President Park Will Do Everything To Delay Jail

When the scandal first started, I suspect many people were afraid that President Park might commit suicide (which has happened frequently in such scandals in Korea).

President Park is desperately trying to extend her stay as President. When her term ends, she will be indicted and probably go to jail for a long time.

Since she is surrounded by guards, they should be able to stop any suicide attempts.

It could take months to get rid of her.

New York Times: Park Geun-hye Was Accomplice in Extortion, South Korean Prosecutors Say

New York Times: President Conspired With Her Friend

Washington Post: South Korean political scandal started with a card game in Macau

President Park Lied Again

President Park promised the people on national television that she would submit to question by prosecutors.

Her lawyer, Yoo Yong-ha, just announced that President Park refuses to undergo questioning by prosecutors. He said that he was preparing for questioning by a special independent prosecuting team that will be formed in the coming weeks.

So, President Park technically did not lie, since it was her lawyer that did the talking. She can say that it was the lawyer's decision to refuse questioning. That's her way of thinking. The ruling party leader, Lee Jong-hyon, also seems to have chronic cognitive dissonance,

CNN: President Park to be investigated as three others indicted

The President's Office just responsed to the indictment charges. They said that the investigation was biased, nothing was proven yet, and that President Park will carry on with her duties. They also said the indictment made it sound like President Park committed a serious crime. They said that the President is innocent and they will prove it.

I strongly suspect that the President's Office is relaying President Park's direct responses.

President Park Named As Conspirator In Indictment

Prosecutors just announced the indictments against Ahn Jong-bom (ex-Presidential Aide), Jeong Ho-song (ex-Presidential Aide), and Choi Soon-sil.

In the indictments, President Park was named as a conspirator for being significantly involved in the crimes. The most serious charge of bribery over 100 million won (about $90,000) which can carry a punishment of up to life imprisonment was not listed in the indictment. Prosecutors are saying that this is still being investigated.

Although the President cannot be indicted while in office, the Prosecutors state that they will still carry on investigations into the President. It is said that to name the President in the indictment means that the Prosecutors have a pretty good case.

It is alleged that President Park ordered the amount raised for a foundation from 30 billion won to 50 billion won (about $45 million), that President Park introduced Choi Soon-sil to government and foundation officials, and that business groups donated or gave money because they feared retaliation. Other crimes listed are abuse of power, fraud, unauthorized disclosure of classified information, and coercion. The Prosecutors state they already have enough evidence to prove the indictments and that further charges may be brought.

This is just the start of the telling of the truth. We will all find out a lot more in the coming months.

Will she resign before the shit hits the fan?

If Korean JTBC News didn't find the laptop with presidential speeches and other document files on it, which led to the search warrants that found the burner phones with recordings and chats, in addition to notebooks with memos about orders from President Park and Choi Soon-sil, then two-faced President Park would still be hiding behind the law.

The Prosecutors just announced that President Park asked business group chairmen for favors during her one-to-one meetings with them. President Park is famous for not having one-to-one meetings with any of her ministers (not even one) for discussions of policy or anything. Yet, she met business group chairmen in one-on-one meetings.

In her meeting with Lotte, President Park asked Lotte to donate another 7 billion won ($6.4 million).

In her meeting with Hyundai Motors, she asked the chairman to give 1.1 billion won worth of orders to KD Corporation and 6.2 billion won in advertising to Playground Advertising.

In her meeting with KT (Korea Telecom), she asked that a person be named director in charge of marketing. This director gave KT advertising contract to two companies with connections to Choi Soon-sil and Cha Eun-taek.

There were seven chairmen, who had one-on-one meetings with President Park, so there will be more releases from the prosecutors office in the coming weeks.

New York Times: S. Korean Prosecutors Say Park Conspired With Her Friend

Korea Herald: Presidential office expresses regret over investigation result

BBC: S. Korea president Park Geun-hye 'had role' in scandal

AP: S. Korean prosecutors say Park conspired with her friend

Korea Times: 'President Park criminal suspect,' says prosecution 

4th Week Of Seoul Protests Demanding President Park Step Down

Compared to last week, demonstrators were more densely packed, but in a slightly smaller area. After taking into consideration that most people do not stay for the whole demonstration, I estimate almost one million attended. Official estimates are over 600,000 demonstrators in Seoul and over 350,000 in 16 other cities.

Last week, I could get to Kwangwha Mun. This week, I could not. I was blocked by walls of people. It was too packed to get close. I gave up a block away from Kwangwha Mun and it took me an hour to get out of there.

There were crowds on Jongro 2nd Street which is three blocks from Kwangwha Mun.

Jongro 2nd Street

A Block Away From Kwangwha Mun

Trapped In Crowds

Between City Hall and Kwangwha Mun

According to police, this is 80,000 people. Must be several hundred thousand. It seems President Park controls what the police say.

Scaring Family Demonstrators From Protesting

Peaceful demonstrations are planned throughout Korea today starting from 6 pm.

Pro-Park groups announced they are planning marches in Seoul at the same time. 

Media keep reporting there might be violence between the two groups.

Many feel that this is a blatant attempt to scare families from participating in the demonstrations.

Gonna take my family to the protests! See you there.

Past Questionable Investigations

Just because they can keep it out of the news, doesn't mean that it will disappear.

It is widely suspected that the investigations into the following incidents were far from satisfactory.

1. Involvement by Korean intelligence in the last presidential election.
2. Involvement by Korean military intelligence in the last presidential election.
3.  Involvement by ruling party assemblymen Yoon Sang-hyon and Choi Kyun-hwan in illegal campaigning during the last presidential elections.
4. The Chung Yoon-hae scandal regarding influence peddling.
5. The Song Hwan-jong scandal where he named people he gave money to before committing suicide.
6. Spreading of false information during the last presidential election by ruling party assemblyman Kim Moo-sung (found not guilty because he said he thought something he read was true), The ruling party used this false information to paint people as communist sympathizers.
7. There was another one where a policewoman (now opposition assemblywoman) reported that her superior was interfering in the investigation into interference by Korean intelligence before the last Presidential elections. She was accused of perjury and forced out. Her superior was found innocent. Very unfair ruling. The policewoman was acquitted of perjury just this year. They dragged the case on and on, just to make trouble.

Those are only the ones I know and am ticked off about. I probably forgot some.

That is why a lot of Koreans were too scared to protest. What can you do? They got the law!

But now, President Park and her gang have pissed off everyone. It is only going to get better!

List Of Arrested In President Park, Choi Soon-sil Scandal

The prosecutors are rumored to have decided to put President Park in Choi Soon-sil's indictment as an accomplice.

People arrested, so far, are below;

Ms. Choi Soon-sil
Mr. Cha Eun-taek
Mr. An Chong-bum (Presidential Aide)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong (Presidential Aide)
Ms. Choi Si-ho (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)

The prosecutors just applied for an arrest warrant for Kim Chong ex-Vice Minister of Culture.

Expect this list to grow in the coming weeks.

Every time some scandal happens that is close to her, President Park has almost always ordered a thorough investigation and strict punishment on those involved. She does this to distance herself from the spotlight.

When the Choi Soon-sil scandal broke out, she did this. Now, the Lee Yeong-bok scandal, she says the same thing. Eventually, it will probably be revealed that people around President Park were involved.

The ruling party is talking about imposing martial law. What a joke! They are doing their best to deflect attention.