The trial hearing on the Seoul bureau of Sankei Shimbun came under the spotlight on Monday amid the Chung Yoon-hoi scandal involving an alleged power struggle among incumbent and former presidential aides.

Tatsuya Kato, 48, the former bureau chief of the Japanese newspaper, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court the same day for the second hearing of the libel case, under which the prosecution indicted him on charges of defaming President Park Geun-hye “with a groundless report.”

Its Aug. 3 article speculated that Park was not at Cheong Wa Dae when the ferry capsized on the morning of April 16, raising the possibility that she was privately meeting a male confidant at a location outside the presidential office.

While the prosecution is expected to ask judges to punish Kato for publicizing baseless information in a vicious manner, the attorney for the defendant stressed that the report was for the benefit of the public and there was no intention of defamation.

A group of conservative advocates, who had filed a lawsuit against Kato for defamation, argued at the court that the Japanese paper looked down on Koreans as well as the president.

While the attorney for Kato asked judges for permission to question presidential guards to determine the facts, the prosecution downplayed the need for this.

Opposition lawmakers and a large portion of netizens criticized Cheong Wa Dae for only turning up the heat on Sankei without making any particular comments about the vernacular Chosun Ilbo, which initially raised the question about Park’s whereabouts through a column.

Lawmakers from the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy including Reps. Park Young-sun and Kim Hyun-mi have also continued to call for the presidential office to reveal what took place during Park’s “mysterious seven hours” on April 16.

After the ferry Sewol sank that morning, Park reportedly asked her staff later in the day, “Why did the authorities fail to rescue passengers who were wearing life jackets?”

According to earlier rumors, Park was staying with Chung Yoon-hoi, her former key aide, at a private residence in Seoul.

The presidential office has continued to dismiss the rumors and report, stressing that the president was at the presidential residence. A secretary noted that she takes care of state affairs “not only at the official office but also at the presidential residence.”

Allegations have arisen that some presidential secretaries failed to contact Park on the morning of the sinking.

Meanwhile, the power struggle scandal, ignited by the Segye Ilbo newspaper, involves allegations that Chung was improperly exercising power in the administration.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)