The investigation that brought down the country’s President Park Geun-hye is spreading to South Korea’s biggest family-run conglomerates, known as chaebol
South Korean prosecutors will question the chairman of the SK Group Saturday in connection with an influence-peddling scandal that brought down President Park Geun-hye, the company and the Yonhap news agency said.
Park, South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be removed from office, faces allegations that she colluded with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to donate to foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
Officials at the prosecutors’ office could not be reached for comment about the summoning of SK Chairman Chey Tae-won.
A spokesman for the SK Group however confirmed that Chey would be questioned but declined to comment further.
Reform of chaebol
Park is to appear for questioning Tuesday. She and Choi have denied wrongdoing.
An election to pick a new president will be May 9, and reform of South Korea’s powerful family-run conglomerates, known as chaebol, is a major campaign issue.
