Choi’s Reaction

[Anchor Lead]

When the prosecution asked for a harsh sentence, an enraged Choi Soon-sil let out a scream and caused a scene in the courtroom. Meanwhile, her lawyer denounced the prosecution’s sentencing demand, saying that such a long prison term is, in essence, is sentencing her to die in prison.

[Pkg]

Choi Soon-sil asked for a break during her lawyer's statement made in response to the prosecution's sentencing demands. When she was moved to a defendant waiting room, she let out a loud scream that could be heard even from the courtroom and could not control her outrage for quite a while. Choi's lawyer criticized the sentencing request, saying that a prison term of 25 years was, in effect, telling her to die in prison. Choi then returned to the courtroom to make her final statement. She denied all charges, claiming that her one-time associate Ko Young-tae and others had framed her. She also wept while saying that a fine of more than 100 billion won is worse than having property confiscated under a socialist regime. As to ex-President Park, Choi said that she regrets not leaving the ex-president when she was elected and she finds it painful for having caused this situation. Meanwhile, the political circle all asked for Choi's punishment. The Democratic Party said that Choi should apologize to the Korean people and the sentencing demands were appropriate for someone who disrupted government affairs and Constitutional order. The conservative Liberty Korea Party stated that a 25-year prison term doesn't seem that severe and the scream that Choi let out is what the Korean people wanted to do when they found about her wrongdoings. The People's Party also said that Choi had brought this on herself and her case should serve as a warning to others.