Choi Soon-sil Scandal

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Up next: an update on the ongoing Choi Soon-sil political scandal. Three close aides of President Park Geun-hye are now under investigation. Conglomerate officials who had separate meetings with the president have also been summoned for questioning.

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Prosecutors have raided the homes of former presidential secretary for public relations Ahn Bong-geun and former secretary for administrative affairs Lee Jae-man in the ongoing power abuse scandal. The raids come just 10 days after the two secretaries stepped down from their posts.

[Soundbite] Custodian at apartment of former presidential aidAhn(Voice modified) : "(Is it true that officials from the prosecutors' office have visited?) Yes, I can only say that much. I checked the warrant and let them in."

Another former presidential secretary Jeong Ho-seong was detained earlier on charges of leaking official secrets, meaning that all three of President Park's closest aides are now under investigation. The prosecution is known to have secured circumstantial evidence that Ahn and Lee were involved in leaking presidential documents to Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of the influence peddling scandal. Choi and former aide Jeong have also been questioned regarding allegations that the three secretaries jointly used an e-mail account found in a tablet PC belonging to Choi. Prosecutors also questioned officials from Hyundai Motor Company and LG, SK, CJ and Hanwha Groups on Tuesday. On Wednesday, an official from Hanjin Group was grilled on why the company donated large funds to the disputed Mi-R and K-Sports foundations. Investigation is picking up speed into suspicions that fundraising for the two foundations was forced upon large firms.