South Korea’s presidential office on Monday denied allegations that it conducted an investigation into a former confidant of President Park Geun-hye on suspicions of influence-peddling.
The Segye Ilbo claimed that Cheong Wa Dae’s division in charge of civil service discipline allegedly launched a probe on Chung Yoon-hoi in January, after obtaining intelligence that he had pulled strings for officials seeking special favors for promotion. Chung was a key adviser to Park when she entered politics 16 years ago.
According to the report, the investigation was called off soon as the police officer who was in charge of the case was replaced and ordered to return to the National Police Agency.
Cheong Wa Dae denied the report saying that the presidential office for civil discipline has never inspected civilians, as its duty is limited to only high-ranking officials. The office also warned that it would take “stern action” against reports that use “incorrect information.”
“The civil discipline office is obligated to investigate (allegations over) public officials, and it has never launched a probe into Chung,” the presidential office said in a statement.
The nation’s top office also refuted the reports that the investigation was suspended due to an abrupt personnel transfer. “Cheong Wa Dae has no specific dates for selecting its administrative staff but carries out a hiring process if necessary on an ad hoc basis,” it said.
Chung came under the media spotlight recently after reports speculated that he met the president at a private place in Seoul when the Sewol ferry sank off the country’s southwest coast on April 16.
The prosecution said it had summoned Chung as part of the investigation into a Japanese newspaper that ran the story on Park’s alleged secret meeting with Chung. The 59-year-old Chung denied the reports of his encounter with the president and claimed that he was not a key aide of Park.
Chung is little-known in national politics as he is said to have supported Park when she was running for a by-election in a district in Daegu in 1998. He also reportedly contributed to Park’s 2012 presidential election victory through low-key campaign activities.
