In a widening power abuse scandal.... prosecutors summoned ex-Supreme Court chief justice Yang Sung-tae this morning to question him over a number of allegations.<br />And ahead of his questioning,... Yang apologized to the public.... but strongly denied the charges against him.<br />Our Kim Mok-yeon was at the scene this morning and files this report. <br />Korea's former Supreme Court Justice Yang Sung-tae, who served as the head of the judiciary department from 2011 to 2017, defended himself and the court system on Friday, in front of his previous workplace, the Supreme Court.<br />Addressing the public, he denied the allegations against him, but apologized for what had happened during his term and said that he is willing to take responsibility.<br /><br />"The majority of our judges have been fulfilling their duties with their hearts dedicated to the public.<br />I believe that my fellow judges who are related to the probe did not work against the law and their conscience.<br />But even if they are found guilty, It's my fault so I will take responsibility for it."<br /><br />His speech at the top court was an unprecedented move, as majority of those who are brought in for questioning, including former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, had to stand before the "photo line" in front of the prosecutors' office to answer questions from reporters. <br /><br />Opposing such action, hundreds of people from various civic groups and labor unions gathered on the road between the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor's office, protesting and demanding Yang's arrest.<br />Friday's remarks came seven months after Yang denied all allegations against him last June, claiming the court's ruling is sacred and that it should not be denigrated.<br />Yang has been accused of some 40 offenses including using trials as bargaining chips in dealings with the previous Park Geun-hye administration to achieve his long-envisioned plan of establishing a separate court of appeals. <br />Those trials include ones filed by Korean plaintiffs against Japanese firms that forced them into labor during World War 2.<br />Yang is also accused of creating a blacklist of judges based on their political leanings and of leaking confidential information. <br /><br />"Facing such serious charges, the prosecution’s questioning of the ex-chief justice is expected to stretch well into the night .<br />Prosecutors are even considering summoning Yang back at least twice so they can dig through all allegations."<br /><br />Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News. <br />
