2023-09-26 02:38:05
Former President Park Geun-hye, who suffered the disgrace of impeachment for the first time in constitutional history, gave her first media interview since receiving a special pardon in December 2021.
In an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, former President Park spoke directly regarding her merits and demerits while in office and her life in prison.
[박근혜 전 대통령(중앙일보 인터뷰)]
“I had pain all over my body to the point where I was afraid of the coming of the night. There were many times when I mightn’t sleep for even an hour at night because of the pain that felt like I was being cut with a knife or being burned by fire.”
Regarding her impeachment, former President Park apologized, saying, “I was unable to carry out the duties entrusted to me to the end,” and “I sincerely apologize once once more.”
[박근혜 전 대통령(중앙일보 인터뷰)]
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere apologies once once more for not being able to fully monitor my surroundings and for not being able to carry out the duties entrusted to me and for causing a lot of disappointment and concern.”
Regarding Choi Soon-sil and Choi Seo-won following changing their names, he said, “We weren’t close from the beginning, but following he was elected president and entered the Blue House, there was no one to run personal errands for him, so he started going in and out of the Blue House. I only thought of him as someone who helped him selflessly.” .
Regarding suspicions regarding Choi’s involvement in the operation of the Mir Foundation and other corruption in state affairs, he said, “I really regretted not refusing when Mr. Choi offered to introduce me to the foundation’s board of directors,” and added, “It was all my fault for not managing my surroundings properly.” .
However, regarding the fact that the contributions made by Lotte and SK Group to the Mir Foundation were recognized as third-party bribery, he said, “I still cannot understand it,” and added, “Lotte or SK have never made any request to me, and I have not given any specific request to the group presidents.” He claimed, “I have never asked for any amount of sponsorship.”
Regarding receiving illegal special activity funds from the heads of the National Intelligence Service while in office, he said, “I thought it was because previous governments have also provided such support,” and added, “I did not use it for personal purposes, but I really regret that it was not subject to legal review.”
Regarding evaluations while in office, former President Park said, “I accept if there are criticisms that I personally failed because I did not complete my term,” but added, “I cannot accept that I failed in terms of policy.”
At the same time, he cited the civil service pension reform, the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party, the deployment of THAAD, the comfort women agreement, and the signing of GSOMIA as major achievements during his term.
[박근혜 전 대통령(중앙일보 인터뷰)]
“It was really as if heaven had helped me, so I ended up in prison following doing everything. So the last thing I did was to sign the GSOMIA agreement.”
He said that he was relieved that prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol, who investigated him, became president, and that the left-wing government was not extended and was replaced by a conservative government.
Regarding the future, former President Park said, “I have no plans for next year’s general election,” and drew a line once morest rumors of pro-Park figures running for office, saying, “I don’t want anyone to say that it’s related to me.”
He also said, “I have left the political front, but I will do whatever I can to help the country even a little. I think that is a way to repay the love that the people have given me.”
(Source: JoongAng Ilbo)
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