Daughter of Park’s close friend to be expelled from university

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) — A local university on Friday decided to expel the daughter of President Park Geun-hye’s confidante, who is at the center of an influence-peddling scandal rocking the country, over allegations she received unlawful favors from the school, its audit committee said.

The special audit committee of Ewha Womans University in Seoul said it will expel Chung Yoo-ra and repeal her admission over a string of illicit treatments given to her, ranging from college admission to academic affairs.

Chung is a former member of the national equestrian team and the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, who was indicted last month on charges of bullying local conglomerates in collaboration with President Park Geun-hye. Two former aides of the president were also indicted over their involvement in the scandal.

The committee also sought severe punishment for five professors involved in the wrongdoings. Ten other faculty members will also face different levels of disciplinary action, according to the committee.

The school said it will decide how to reprimand its former President Choi Kyung-hee, 54, after state prosecutors conclude their investigation into her involvement in the scandal.

The 54-year-old former university head resigned in October in the wake of growing criticism from the university students and faculty.

A group of students at Ewha Womans University in Seoul calls for a thorough investigation into allegations Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of President Park Geun-hye, meddled in state affairs using her ties to the president, at the school’s front gate on Oct. 26, 2016.