Soap opera: South Korean President Park Geun-hye ‘used TV character as pseudonym’ at detox clinic
Park is under intense pressure from an angry public to step down over allegations that she allowed a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to meddle in state affairs
The heroine of a TV soap became the most talked-about person in South Korea on Wednesday when a TV channel revealed President Park Geun-hye once used her name as a pseudonym at a beauty and detox clinic, a distraction from the scandal engulfing her administration.
Gil Ra-im, the main character in the smash hit drama Secret Garden, became the object of parody following the report that Park used her name at the Chaum beauty and anti-ageing clinic in an upscale Seoul neighbourhood.
Park is under intense pressure from an angry public to step down over allegations that she allowed a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to use her closeness to her to meddle in state affairs and exert improper influence in the cultural and sports communities.
Cable channel JTBC said late on Tuesday that Park frequented the clinic, even after she took office in 2013. Rhie Dong-mo, president of Chaum, confirmed that Park used the pseudonym Gil Ra-im in 2011.
“We can’t deny patients who want to use pseudonyms,” Rhie said.
The presidential Blue House declined to comment.
Chaum, where the enrolment fee is US$130,000, offers anti-ageing, detox, food therapy and spa services, according to its website.
Secret Garden, about the life of a struggling stunt woman, Gil Ra-im (played by Ha Ji-won), who falls in love with a rich department store owner, has aired in at least 14 countries around the world including China, Japan and as far away as Argentina.
In another twist, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday its probe of Chaum found prescriptions for an intravenous glucose and vitamin mix were issued for Park from 2012 to 2014 and a staff doctor had fabricated charts to record them as being issued for Choi and her sister.
A ministry official with direct knowledge of the probe said he was not aware of Park’s use of a soap opera character’s name but there was no plan to launch a new investigation.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s state prosecutors have asked embattled President Park to submit herself to questioning about her relationship with Choi by Friday, an official from the prosecution said.
The request came after the Park’s defence lawyer asked prosecutors Tuesday for more time before she would submit to questioning as a witness, after prosecutors earlier sought such a session on Tuesday or Wednesday.
“Given what the defence lawyer said yesterday, questioning [the president] tomorrow looks difficult,” the official said. “The prosecution plans to notify [the presidential office] questioning is possible by Friday.”
Additional reporting by Associated Press
