(LEAD) Presidential official admits to meeting Choi 'dozens of times'

(ATTN: UPDATES with details of hearing in paras 1-4, 6, 8, 10-13; CHANGES headline)By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- A presidential official said Thursday he met President Park Geun-hye's friend at the center of a political scandal "dozens of