Park Geun-hye "Impeachment, My Fault for Poor Management... Also Accept Conservative Regime Change"

First Media Interview After Pardon
"Impeachment, Sincerely Apologize for Disappointing the People"
"Not a 'Policy Failure,' Significant Achievements"

Former President Park Geun-hye said regarding her impeachment, "I sincerely apologize once again for not being able to fulfill the duties entrusted to me until the end due to my failure to carefully observe my surroundings, which caused much disappointment and concern."

Regarding Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), who was called her unofficial confidante, she said, "Everything was due to my negligence in not properly managing those around me, and I sincerely apologize to the people."

Former President Park conducted her first media interview after a special pardon in December 2021. In an interview with JoongAng Ilbo held on the 11th at her residence in Dalseong-gun, Daegu City, she expressed gratitude to the public, saying, "I would like to thank and express my gratitude to the many people across the country who have unwaveringly believed in and supported me during the long and difficult times."

Former President Park Geun-hye is shopping at Hyeonpung Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu on the 25th. 2023.9.25 [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding her relationship with Choi, she explained, "After being elected president and entering the Blue House, there was no one to run personal errands. Since I am a woman, there were things that were difficult to ask the (male) secretaries to do. So Choi came in and out of the Blue House to run errands."

She added, "Before becoming president, Choi had never used me for personal gain or interfered in interests, so I thought of her as someone who helped me selflessly."

Regarding Choi's involvement in the operation of the Mir Foundation and K-Sports Foundation, she said, "It is true that the board members were recommended by Choi, but they were vetted and were highly specialized in their fields, so I did not think it would be a big problem."

She then conveyed the following.

"At first, when Choi asked, 'Shall I introduce good people as board members of the foundation?' I deeply regret not refusing. During the prosecution's investigation, I was shocked to hear that Choi conducted interviews with the foundation's staff and was involved in its operation. However, all of this was due to my negligence in not properly managing those around me, and I sincerely apologize to the people."

Regarding receiving special activity funds from the heads of the National Intelligence Service, she said, "At the beginning of my term, my aides reported that there was money that could be supported by the NIS for Blue House operations, and since it was said that previous governments had also received such support, I told them to use the funds for work. I never used the special activity funds for personal purposes," she emphasized.

Regarding illegal interference in the Saenuri Party's nomination process for the 2016 general election, she said, "If someone says the president is not interested in the general election, I think that is really a lie. I may have mentioned a few people, but I have no memory of making a specific list and telling the party to nominate those people."

She continued, "I never explicitly told anyone not to nominate Representative Yoo Seung-min. However, since the Blue House staff knew that I was not favorable toward Representative Yoo, the nomination controversy is ultimately my responsibility," she said.

Regarding the view that "the Park Geun-hye administration was a failed government," she expressed a different opinion.

"Since I did not complete my term, if it is said that it was a 'personal failure,' I accept that. However, if it is said that it was a 'policy failure,' I do not understand which policies were wrong. Issues such as the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party, public servant pension reform, the closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and the deployment of THAAD were matters of national fate that I believed had to be accomplished no matter what. The Creative Economy Innovation Centers were policies I put a lot of effort into, expecting them to play a role suitable for the Fourth Industrial Revolution era. Even before my impeachment, significant results had already begun to emerge, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment."

Regarding the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, she said, "First of all, I was relieved that the left-wing regime did not continue and was replaced by a conservative government. I understand that some prosecutors who participated in the investigation team of the 'state affairs manipulation case' hold ministerial or key positions in the Yoon Suk-yeol government. However, since personnel decisions are made by the appointing authority, I think it is inappropriate to comment on this."

She added, "It has been about one year and four months since this government was launched, so it is somewhat premature to evaluate the government's direction and policies. Moreover, as a former president, I think it is not appropriate to comment on such matters."