- Title: South Korean lawmakers quiz ex-presidential aide on corruption scandal
- Date: 22nd December 2016
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (DECEMBER 22, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** PARLIAMENTARY HEARING IN PROGRESS FORMER SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARY FOR CIVIL AFFAIRS, WOO BYUNG-WOO (LEFT), AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL NURSE OFFICER, CHO YEO-OK (RIGHT), SITTING SOUTH KOREAN CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL COMMITTEE, KIM SUNG-TAE (FAR LEFT), HITTING GAVEL, AS OTHER LAWMAKERS SEATED LAWMAKERS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) FORMER SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARY FOR CIVIL AFFAIRS, WOO BYUNG-WOO, SAYING: "I don't know Choi Soon-sil (in person). I saw her in the media." WOO SPEAKING AS CHO SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) FORMER SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARY FOR CIVIL AFFAIRS, WOO BYUNG-WOO, SAYING: "Since I became a senior secretary for civil affairs, I've talked to President Park on the phone and she always told me that she worked for the country and for the people. I believe her sincerity so I respect her." LAWMAKERS SITTING EMPTY SEATS OF SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE'S FRIEND, CHOI SOON-SIL MORE OF PARLIAMENTARY HEARING
- Embargoed: 6th January 2017 05:43
- Keywords: lawmakers corruption scandal president park geun-hye former presidential aide woo byung-woo national assembly
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015DYSW91
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:South Korean lawmakers on Thursday (December 22) quizzed witnesses including former presidential secretary, Woo Byung-woo, at the fifth round of a parliamentary hearing.
Woo is accused of delinquency of duties for allowing president Park's friend Choi Soon-sil to interfere in state affairs, Seoul's Yonhap said.
However, he denied knowing Choi Soon-sil in person and claimed that everything was groundless speculation.
"I don't know Choi Soon-sil (in person). I saw her in the media," said Woo during the parliamentary hearing.
Woo also said he respects president Park, the embattled leader engulfed in a corruption scandal.
"Since I became a senior secretary for civil affairs, I've talked to president Park on the phone and she always told me that she worked for the country and for the people. I believe her sincerity so I respect her," Woo added.
The court is reviewing the impeachment vote passed by parliament on December 9. Park is accused of colluding with a friend to pressure big businesses into making financial contributions to non-profit foundations and violating her constitutional duty.
Park has described the friend, Choi Soon-sil, as someone she had turned to at difficult times and apologized for carelessness in her ties, but denied any legal wrongdoing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None