PRESIDENT PARK NAMED AS ACCOMPLICE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY|南韓檢方起訴崔順實 稱朴槿惠為共謀關係

Meanwhile in South Korea, the political scandal surrounding president Park Geun Hye and her confidante Choi Soon Sil continues to unravel. On the 20th of November, South Korean prosecutors officially indicted Choi and 2 of Park's top aides at the Blue House, while Park herself was listed as Choi's accomplice, but as an incumbent president, Park enjoys criminal immunity and is therefore above indictment. However, the scandal has given the opposition enough ammunition to work towards impeaching Park. Meanwhile, more than 150 thousand protesters took to the streets in Seoul for the fourth consecutive weekend to call for Park's resignation. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office held a press conference to announce that South Korean President Park Geun-hye's confidante Choi Soon-sil, together with two former presidential aides, Ahn Jong-beom and Jung Ho-sung would be prosecuted for criminal activity. The two aides resigned earlier and Choi was taken into custody on Nov. 1. ==Lee Young-ryeol, Chief Prosecutor, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office== The accused Choi Soon-sil and Ahn Jong-beom pressured 53 members of Korean companies to donate around US$65.5 million. This money was used to set up two sports foundations. The companies involved feared that if they did not donate, it would adversely affect their companies, such as tax checks or difficulties in obtaining licenses. It was the first time that prosecutors had openly named the president as an accomplice in criminal activity. However, under the constitution, the President has criminal immunity and cannot be prosecuted. They plan to interview her in the next few days. ==LEE YOUNG-RYEOL Chief Prosecutor, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office== Looking at our current evidence, we believe that the President played a role as accomplice in Choi and Ahn's case. The opposition now feel justified in calling for the impeachment of Park. On Nov. 19, a large number of people gathered for the fourth consecutive week in the vicinity of Gwanghuamun Square in Seoul, to call on the President to step down. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR 首爾中央地方檢察廳，今天上午召開記者會，宣布起訴總統朴槿惠的閨蜜崔順實，跟兩名前幕僚安鐘範、鄭虎成。這兩人在上個月醜聞曝光後，已經辭去青瓦台的職位。崔順實則是在1號到檢察廳應訊後就被收押。 ==首爾中央地方檢察廳 本部長 李英烈== 被告崔順實 安鐘範 強迫韓國工業聯合會53名會員捐款 金額達774萬美元 這筆錢被用來成立兩個文化運動基金會 財團擔心一旦拒絕可能會 給企業帶來直接間接的不利影響 像是遭到查稅或是執照被刁難等 南韓檢方也第一次公開指控總統朴槿惠是崔順實案的共謀，不過礙於憲法賦予總統的刑事豁免權，無法起訴，但檢方已經立案將朴槿惠視為犯罪嫌疑人，計畫未來幾天當面調查朴槿惠。 ==首爾中央地方檢察廳 本部長 李英烈== 根據目前檢方取得的證據 我們判斷總統在崔順實等三人的 刑事案件中 扮演共謀的角色 檢方這項指控也給了反對黨彈劾朴槿惠的正當理由。而在前一晚，大批民眾連續第四個週末聚集在首爾光化門廣場附近，要朴槿惠為放任親信干政貪污的醜聞下台。 記者 陳秋玫 報導