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South Korean Scandal Edges Closer to President

by Associated Press

   SEOUL --

   South Korean prosecutors have detained a former senior aide of
   President Park Geun-hye as they widen their investigation into a
   snowballing scandal centering on whether the president's close friend
   controlled the government from the shadows, officials said Thursday.

   Ahn Jong-beom is the second person detained in connection with a
   scandal that has sent Park's approval rating to record lows and
   triggered mounting calls for her resignation. Earlier this week,
   prosecutors detained Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, and requested an
   arrest warrant for her.

   South Korean media speculate Choi, who has no government position,
   secretly made policy recommendations for Park and pushed businesses to
   donate millions of dollars to two foundations she controlled.

   FILE - A former presidential secretary Ahn Jong-beom arrives for
   questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seoul,
   South Korea, Nov. 2, 2016. South Korean prosecutors also requested an
   arrest warrant for a longtime another friend of President Park
   Geun-hye.

   The detention of Ahn wasn't unexpected -- he's been connected in media
   reports to Choi -- but it is another investigative step closer to the
   presidential Blue House. Park may survive what has become the worse
   patch of an already rocky four years in office, but a major test will
   be whether opposition parties reject her recent nomination for a new
   prime minister.

   Park subject to investigation

   Her nominee Kim Byong-joon told a press conference, a day after Park
   named him to be the next prime minister, that in his view Park can be
   subject to the prosecutors' investigation.

   "My position is an investigation is possible," Kim said. "But since
   (she) is the head of state, its process and method requires
   circumspection," Reuters reported.

   Prosecutors investigating the scandal detained Ahn Wednesday night
   after they summoned him for questioning over whether he was involved in
   extracting $70 million in donations, according to the Seoul Central
   District Prosecutors' Office. Prosecutors have 48 hours to determine
   whether to seek an arrest warrant for Ahn or release him.

   Ahn was among the eight presidential advisers fired by Park in an
   attempt to regain public trust in the wake of the scandal. On
   Wednesday, Park nominated a new prime minister and two other top
   officials, but opposition lawmakers quickly criticized the reshuffling
   as a diversion.

   Past adds to frenzy

   Much of the public frenzy over the scandal is associated with Choi's
   family background. Her father led a religious cult and reportedly was a
   private mentor for Park, whose parents each were assassinated in the
   1970s. Park's father was a military dictator who ruled South Korea for
   18 years.

   While acknowledging her ties to Choi Soon-sil last week, Park said Choi
   helped her "when I had difficulties'' in the past. Park acknowledged
   that Choi had edited some of her speeches and provided public relations
   help. South Korean media speculate Choi may have had access to
   sensitive information and played a much larger role in government
   affairs.

   A Seoul court will likely determine by Friday morning whether to
   approve an arrest warrant for Choi.