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
Monday, November 21, 2016
Sunday, November 20, 2016
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.
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
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!
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?
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 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.
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.