It seems that the independent counsel is set to focus on the bribery allegations against President Park Geun-hye in its investigation.

Certainly, investigators must scrutinize the allegations the she and her confidantes took kickbacks from conglomerates.

Evidence to prove her suspected corruption is important, as it could lead to jail terms for Park, the civilians involved or presidential aides -- indictment and court trials for them in the coming months cannot be ruled out.

Simultaneously, the independent counsel must accept the request from the public and lawmakers that it should thoroughly look into whether Park neglected her duty to keep citizens safe.

The public is focusing on one day in particular -- April 16, 2014, the day the Sewol ferry sank and left 304 people either dead or missing.

The sinking of the ferry, which came back into the spotlight after the influence-peddling scandal broke in late October, has produced a lot of speculation and testimonies.

The latest rumors include the idea that Park was undergoing a medical treatment at her residence in Cheong Wa Dae while the Sewol ferry sank, despite major broadcasters reporting the incident live from about 9:20 a.m.

While Park’s whereabouts for about seven hours -- roughly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -- remain a mystery, it is alleged that Cheong Wa Dae did not give rescue instructions between 8:50 a.m. (when the vessel’s stranding was notified to maritime police) and 10:28 a.m. (when most of the vessel had sunk).

The independent counsel has to reveal what she was doing by pushing for a face-to-face interrogation.

Whether or not Park was glossing over the incident or was not acquainted with it, questions still remain. Even though the navy was poised to send a large-scale salvage and rescue ship (dubbed Tongyeong Salvage Vessel), the then-Navy chief of staff’s move was blocked “by an authority.”

During the National Assembly’s hearing over the Park scandal on Wednesday, the then-national security adviser Kim Jang-soo replied that he did not know who prevented the Navy from being dispatched.

Another allegation is that an authority turned down the US military’s offer to help in the rescue effort.

Then-presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon said he was not implicated in the allegations, arguing that the handing of the rescue offers was up to the national security office, putting the blame on Kim Jang-soo.

Investigators need to focus on the fact that both Kim Jang-soo and Kim Ki-choon seemingly admit that there were offers of help from the Navy and the US military -- the two former senior presidential aides must be included in the investigation by the counsel.

As in the other cases of meddling in state affairs, the question arises as to whether Park’s civilian confidantes, including Choi Soon-sil (who has been indicted), curbed the state-led rescue activities through low-key coordination with some Cheong Wa Dae officials.

The media and parliament has been too focused on the whereabouts of Park. There is a certain need to link the influence-peddling with the Sewol tragedy to find the truth.

Recent rumors that Park was getting her hair done or was undergoing cosmetic procedures on April 16, 2014 might just be tip of the iceberg surrounding the undisclosed truth.

Park made her first official TV appearance that day at around 5 p.m., making comments in front of government officials in a security-related meeting that lacked common sense.

Even after the meeting, Cheong Wa Dae did not conduct any particular rescue activities, such as a full-fledged dispatch of divers.