Choi Soon-sil

Choi Soon-sil
Born	23 June 1956 South Korea
Spouse(s)	Chung Yoon-hoi (1995-2014; divorced)
Children	Chung Yoo-ra (daughter)
Korean name
Hangul	최순실
Hanja	崔順實
Revised Romanization	Choe Sunsil
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Sunsil
Birth name
Hangul	최필녀
Hanja	崔畢女
Revised Romanization	Choe Pillyeo
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe P'illyŏ
Legal name
Hangul	최서원
Revised Romanization	Choe Seowon
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Sŏwŏn

Choi Soon-sil (born June 23, 1956) is the prime person of interest in a 2016 South Korean political scandal involving her influence over 18th President of South Korea Park Geun-hye.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Personal life

Choi is the daughter of a South Korean Shamanistic cult leader, Choi Tae-min.^[6] Her ex-husband is President Park's former chief of staff Chung Yoon-hoi and dressage athlete Chung Yoo-ra is her ex-husband's daughter.^[7][8]

2016 South Korean political scandal

The scandal involves allegations that she was responsible for masterminding governmental policy and decision making during Park's administration.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]} Prosecutors have raided offices and homes linked to Choi.^[15][16] Park's secretaries have been ordered to resign following the scandal.^[17] She may have ordered Korean prosecutors to indict a Japanese journalist, Tatsuya Kato (Seoul Bureau chief of Sankei Shimbun), for defamation for reporting that President Park and Chung Yoon-hoi, had a secret seven-hour meeting with Choi after the sinking of MV Sewol.^[18]

As of October 30, Choi Soon-sil has returned to South Korea and is facing prosecution.^[19] On October 31, she met with prosecutors, telling reporters “Please, forgive me. I’m sorry. I committed a sin that deserves death”.^[20]

As of November 20, Choi Soon-sil was officially charged by the prosecutors for intervening with state affairs and forcing chaebols to donate tens of millions of dollars to foundations and businesses she had control over.^[21]

References

1. "A Presidential Friendship Has Many South Koreans Crying Foul". New York Times. October 27, 2016.
2. "A Rasputinesque mystery woman and a cultish religion could take down South Korea's president". Quartz. October 28, 2016.
3. "'It's actually a system where Choi Sun-sil tells the President what to do'". The Hankyoreh. October 26, 2016.
4. "Investigations into 'Choi Soon-sil gate' widening". The Korea Times. October 23, 2016.
5. "Key suspects still at large in Choi Sun-sil probe". JoongAng Ilbo. October 25, 2016.
6. "Swirling Scandal Involving Shamanistic Cult Threatens S. Korean President". Retrieved 29 October 2016.
7. Kim, Oi-hyun (December 3, 2014). "Pres. Park's former aide and his wife may be at the center of ongoing scandal". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
8. Park, Sojung (September 20, 2014). "S. Korea wins gold in team dressage equestrian at Asiad". Yonhap. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
9. "Presidential speeches found on confidante's PC: report". The Korea Herald. October 25, 2016.
10. "South Korea's presidency 'on the brink of collapse' as scandal grows". Washington Post. October 29, 2016.
11. "Can Pres. Park be investigated over Choi Sun-sil scandal?". The Hankyoreh. October 28, 2016.
12. "Troubling revelations about Seoul's 'Shadow President': The Korea Herald columnist". The Straits Times. October 27, 2016.
13. "'Choi-gate' scandal snowballing". JoongAng Ilbo. October 22, 2016.
14. "South Korea's leader acknowledges ties to woman in scandal". Washington Post. October 25, 2016.
15. "South Korea's president accused of leaking classified documents". Channel NewsAsia. October 26, 2016.
16. "Long hide-and-seek game begins for Choi Soon-sil". The Korea Times. October 27, 2016.
17. "Park orders secretaries to resign over 'Choi Soon-sil scandal'". The Korea Times. October 28, 2016.
18. "Korean Prosecutors Indict Japanese Journalist on Defamation Charge", The Wall Street Journal
19. "Choi Soon-sil returns; Blue House 'raid' by voluntary submission continues". Korea Herald. 2016-10-30.
20. Time, Oct. 31, 2016
21. AP, Nov. 20, 2016