"I Want to Apologize Before I Die"... Choi Seo-won Writes Handwritten Letter to Former President Park Geun-hye

Choi's Daughter Jung Yura Shares Letter on Social Media

"I Never Once Considered Betrayal During My 11 Years in Prison"

Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), a central figure in the state affairs manipulation scandal during the Park Geun-hye administration, has released a handwritten letter expressing her longing and regret toward former President Park Geun-hye.

Choi's daughter, Jung Yura, posted a photo of Choi's letter and a written message on her Facebook page on July 9. In the letter, Choi wrote, "I am always concerned about how you have been doing," and added, "Watching you campaign for the local elections on June 3, I felt keenly aware of the passage of time. You seem to be in different health than before, and I am worried about you." She continued, "I was released on a three-month suspension of sentence execution to receive surgery because of severe spinal inflammation and a herniated disc," giving an update on her current condition.

Handwritten letter by Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil). Screenshot from Jung Yura's Facebook page.

Choi also expressed her apologies for causing distress to the former president through a recent media interview. She explained, "I have become someone who regrets unintentionally coming to be by your side, yet all the endless accusations and retrials were done solely for the president who was the only one to stand by me." She went on to say, "Before I die, I wanted to meet you and tell you how sorry I was and ask for your forgiveness, but as I am now old and ill, I doubt I will ever see you again," adding, "I always miss you and worry about you." She also said, "I sincerely pray that, during your lifetime, retrials and lawsuits may at least partially restore your honor," and added, "During my 11 years of imprisonment, I have never once thought of betraying you."

Choi explained her reason for responding to the media interview, saying, "It was a desperate act out of fear that I might be expelled from the hospital due to mounting medical bills." She continued, "Seeing my daughter struggle under 10 years’ worth of indemnity claims and hospital bills amounting to tens of millions of won, it was my last act of desperation." Choi added, "I have always lived with the guilt that if I had never met the president, this incident would never have occurred," and emphasized, "My feelings for former President Park will never change, even until the moment I die."

Her daughter Jung also posted on the same day to defend her mother. Jung wrote, "We have not resented or criticized former President Park even for a moment," and added, "We always live with a sense of remorse." She said, "My mother is someone who, after 10 years in prison, is not only unaware of her current situation but also not accustomed to society," and blamed herself for not paying enough attention, using the excuse of raising a child. Jung said that her mother told her, "That person is innocent. Never hold any resentment," and added, "I, too, am only sorry for causing concern."

Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil)

In June 2020, Choi was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a fine of 20 billion won, and an additional forfeiture of 6.3 billion won for charges including abuse of power and bribery, and has been serving her sentence at Cheongju Women's Prison. During her imprisonment, she suffered a spinal injury from a fall and underwent surgery. Early last month, she was temporarily released on a suspension of sentence execution for treatment of an infection at the site of her spinal fracture surgery.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.