Cult leader, Choi Tae-min, 'had complete control over Park's body and soul during her formative years.'

http://khnews.kheraldm.com/view.php?ud=20170310000352&md=20170310112254_BL https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/11/116_217297.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2016/11/09/5-sad-and-creepy-things-you-should-know-about-south-koreas-presidential-scandal/#5936ca801556 http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/eight-fairies-siphoned-money-and-a-shaman-fortune-teller-south-koreas-presidency-on-the-brink-of-collapse https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07SEOUL2178_a.html

Released by WikiLeaks, the U.S. Embassy in Korea reported to its government in 2007 that "Rumors are rife that the late pastor had complete control over Park's body and soul during her formative years." It also called Choi Tae-min a "Korean Rasputin."

A new rumor recently erupted that Park's possible relation to Yongsaenggyo was behind the sinking of the Sewol ferry in April 2014. The country's worst maritime disaster left over 300 passengers, mostly middle school students, dead or missing. The Park government was criticized for its bungled efforts to save the people.

The de-facto owner of the ferry was Yoo Byung-eun, also a cult leader who was believed to have connections with Chung Yoon-hoi, ex-husband of Choi Soon-sil.

Rumors circulated that the people on the ferry were sacrificed in line with the cult's creed and that Park was deliberately negligent in saving the passengers.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/how-a-mysterious-letter-sent-40-years-ago-set-in-motion-a-scandal-that-could-topple-south-koreas-president

After her father died, Park left the presidential residence and ran a children’s foundation set up by her mother. She turned its control over to her sister in 1990 after some employees protested at what they called Choi’s interference. In her 2007 autobiography, Park said she resigned because she could not let the foundation be tarnished by “groundless allegations.”

Seven years later, Park entered politics by joining the party now known as Saenuri, and was elected a lawmaker in 1998 in the city of Daegu, near where her father was born.

During an unsuccessful campaign for president in 2007, Park said at a debate she was thankful to Choi Tae-min for helping her during “difficult” times. She also told panelists that Choi Soon-sil did not embezzle funds from the children’s foundation Park had headed, responding to allegations aired in local media at the time. Choi once ran a kindergarten affiliated with the foundation.