The special investigation and litigation processes into the corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her now-infamous friend Choi Soon-sil will begin this week, while the embattled president and the parliament prepares for the coming impeachment trial.

The trial of Choi will kick off this week, with the Seoul Central District Court holding official preparations for her trial on Monday. Legal discussions between the prosecution and Choi’s lawyer -- who claimed that the charges were “not facts, but stories” -- is expected, but it is unclear if the accused will appear at the court.
Choi, Park’s long-time friend, is suspected of using her relationship with Park to meddle in state affairs -- including having state projects allocated to people related to her -- and coerce local corporations into making donations to the Mir and K-Sports foundations, which authorities believe were used to channel funds to her.

The investigation led by an independent counsel Park Young-soo is also to officially kick off this week. The team’s spokesman Lee Kyu-chul hinted the actual probe can start during the preparation period that ends on Tuesday.

When asked if the team may summon its first witness this week, Lee said “there is a possibility.” He added that conglomerate chiefs -- that made donations to causes related to Choi -- can “of course be summoned if necessary.”

Suspicions that the donations made by the companies are actually bribes for Park and Choi’s inner circles are considered to be key in the independent counsel’s investigations.

President Park was impeached by the parliament on Dec. 9 for the scandal. In her first legal argument made to the Constitutional Court, which was revealed to the public Sunday, she claimed to have done nothing that deserves impeachment. She claimed to have no knowledge of Choi‘s alleged wrongdoings and said she may have consulted with Choi on a personal level, but never undermined the democratic value because it was her who made the final decisions regarding state affairs.

Litigation process on Park’s former aide An Chong-bum -- suspected of working with Choi under the president’s orders -- and key figures in favoritism allegations Cha Eun-taek and Song Sung-gak are also to take place Monday.

While not yet indicted, Park’s former aides Woo Byung-woo and Kim Ki-choon are suspected of knowingly condoning, or even helping Choi in her wrongdoings.

Woo is expected to be the main feature in Thursday’s parliamentary hearing, as he has snubbed the National Assembly’s repeated subpoenas.

The past four hearings have been disputed as “pointless,” with key witnesses like Woo, An, Choi, Choi’s family members, including daughter Chung Yoo-ra, all failing to show up.

Woo in particular, has gone “missing” after the parliament formally summoned him, which roused suspicion that he is abusing a loop in the law that states a parliamentary summon on a person takes effect only after the cited person has received the documents.

Woo last week told the National Assembly that he will appear before the lawmakers.

Another person slated to make her first appearance is a medical officer surnamed Cho, currently in a training program in Texas, US.

Cho was an officer stationed at Cheong Wa Dae during the 2014 sinking of the Sewol ferry, and her presence was requested by the lawmakers for questioning on what Park had been doing during the worst maritime disaster in Korean history.

Park’s mysterious seven-hour absence from public has sparked suspicion that she was partaking in actions not related to the rescue operation.

The Constitution states that the president is obliged to protect the lives and safety of the people during a national crisis.

Repeat witnesses like Ko Young-tae, considered the closest confidant of Choi Soon-sil, will also be making an appearance. Ko touched off another controversy by telling local media last week that Saenuri lawmaker Lee Man-hee -- a Park loyalist -- had conspired with an official from the K-Sports Foundation to falsify testimonies at the hearing.

According to Ko’s interview, which took place on Tuesday but was published Saturday, Rep. Lee told the official that he will ask him about Choi’s tablet PC -- a key piece of evidence in the scandal that held classified presidential and governmental documents. The official reportedly was instructed to say that he had seen Ko carry the tablet PC in question, supposedly to back Choi’s claim that the device is not hers.

The actual conversation between the two had occurred as implied in the interview. Rep. Lee has denied the allegations. In a press conference Sunday, Lee claimed not to have personally contacted the official in question or instructed him to state a false testimony.

He vowed to take legal actions against Ko and the media outlet that published the interview.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)