Lawmaker claims residence of Choi's daughter found

An opposition lawmaker said Wednesday he has found the residence of the daughter of President Park Geun-hye's close confidante at the center of the ongoing influence-peddling scandal.

Rep. An Min-suk, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party, told CBS Radio that he found Chung Yoo-ra's residence in Germany during his recent trip to the country. Korean residents there are currently standing by at the location, he added.

The discovery is expected to help speed up the parliament's investigation into the case. She has refused to attend a National Assembly hearing on the case.

Chung, a former member of the national equestrian team, was accused of receiving unlawful favors from her high school and university under her mother Choi Soon-sil's influence. Chung was presumed to stay in Germany, but her exact whereabouts remained cloudy.

A photo taken in September 2014, shows Chung Yoo-ra participating in an equestrian competition. (Yonhap)

"We can apprehend Chung if the prosecutors summon her as a suspect," An said. Local investigators are reluctant to take Chung into custody, he added.

An said the Choi family is suspected of being involved in money laundering through their paper companies in Germany.

Park was impeached by the parliament last week over the scandal involving Choi, who allegedly exerted influence on state affairs and used her ties with Park to amass wealth illegally. (Yonhap)