Lawmaker Park Ju-sun, Park Ju-chon To Be Summoned Tomorrow.

Prosecutors investigating the Hyundai Group`s secret fund scandal informed the Millenuim Democratic Party politician Park, Ju-sun and Grand National Party lawmaker Park Ju-chon to appear at the prosecutor`s office by 10am on Sep.18, Prosecutors have evidence on bribes that the two received from Hyundai. Lawmaker Park, Ju-sun, however, voluntarily appeared at the prosecutor`s office on Sep 16 afternoon and received investigation.

Both lawmakers are suspected of granting a request of Hyundai to support it in its projects with the North, taking tens of millions of won in bribes while they were members of state affairs committee in 2000.

Chief of Investigation Planning of Prosecutors, Moon Hyo-nam said, “The two politicians are suspected of directly receiving the money from Hyndai, without going through former Culture-Tourism Minister Park Ji-won or Kwon Roh-kap, a former ruling party adviser.”

Prosecutors will file criminal cases against the two for taking bribes if further investigation through the summon reveals that they received slush funds from the then-Hyundai Asan Chairman Chung Mong-hun and other related officials.

The two lawmakers are denying their charges. Prosecutors, however, say that there would not be many difficulties in proving the charges as they have already secured testimonies from Hyundai officials.

Prosecutors said that these two are the last incumbent lawmakers to be summoned for their involvement in the Hyundai Group`s secret fund scandal and other suspected politicians, including former politicians, will be summoned next week,"

After concluding investigations on the incumbent lawmakers, including additional investigation on ruling party lawmaker Lee Hoon-pyung who was summoned on Sep 15, Prosecutors will launch investigations on `SK Secret Fund` by summoning SK Group chairman Son Kil-seung.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor general Song Kwang-soo said on Sep 16, “Prosecutors will carry out impartial investigations, taking cautions in corporate investigation considering economic situations but totally excluding political factors.”

Wi-Yong Jung Jin-Young Hwang viyonz@donga.com buddy@donga.com