South Korea star equestrian arrested in corruption case

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - The daughter of the former South Korean president’s friend was arrested Wednesday in connection with the scandal that led to the president’s impeachment, local media said.

Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of ex-President Park Geun-hye’s confidante Choi Soon-sil, was formally detained on a flight from Amsterdam to Seoul, Yonghap news agency reported.

The 20-year-old was allegedly a beneficiary of her mother’s ties to the presidential office, which resulted in Park’s impeachment and prosecution alongside Choi over alleged corruption.

Chung, who won gold at the 2014 Asian Games in dressage, is alleged to have received financial support and preferential treatment at school and university.

She was taken from Incheon International Airport to be questioned on suspicion of receiving academic favors at Ewha Womans University and irregular funding for equestrian training from Samsung Group.

Chung could also be questioned about her family's alleged overseas slush funds, Yonhap said.

However, Chung said her connection to the scandal was “unfair”.

“I don't know anything about what happened between my mother and the former president but on my personal level, I feel that it is unfair,” she told reporters at Incheon.

Chung was detained in Denmark on Jan. 1 after she overstayed her visa and South Korea issued an arrest warrant. She filed an appeal which she withdrew last week.

She was arrested after changing flights in the Netherlands and landed in Seoul 2.40 p.m. local time (2340GMT).

Park’s longtime private confidante Choi became a figure of hate during months of anti-government protests, with the media likening her role to that of Russian icon Rasputin.