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
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
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
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).
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'
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.
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
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
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.