Seoul superintendent defends giving money to rival candidate

Seoul education superintendent Kwak No-hyun denied Sunday the allegation that he bribed Park Myung-ki, a professor at Seoul National University of Education, in return for Park dropping out of last year`s election for superintendent.

“After taking office, I gave Park 200 million won (185,000 U.S. dollars) with good intent regardless of the election result because I couldn’t ignore his difficult condition,” Kwak told a news conference at 4:30 p.m. at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

“After hearing that Park was debt-ridden due to having run for superintendent twice and even considering suicide, I gave him a combined 200 million won with good intent,” Kwak added. “This financial support could arouse misunderstanding, so I delivered the money through one of my closest friends who wasn’t involved in the election.”

The superintendent denied that his act was tantamount to buying off a candidate, saying, “We fielded a single candidate thanks to arbitration by senior civil activists and Park`s bold decision to bring victory to the democratic and progressive camp.”

“I couldn’t turn a blind eye to his difficult condition only because he was deeply involved in the election. The laws I’ve learned and considered (as a legal professional and educator) are those with sympathy and consistent with what is right.”

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, however, requested a warrant for Park on charges of violating election law.

Prosecutors said Park received 200 million won from February through April on three occasions via Kwak’s close aide and Park’s younger brother in return for dropping out of the superintendent race.

Under Article 232 of the Election Law, those who provide or receive benefits in return for withdrawing a candidacy face up to seven years in prison or a fine of 5 million to 30 million won (4,620 to 27,700 dollars).

Park and his younger brighter were arrested Friday and grilled through Saturday on the purpose of the money he received. To uphold the legal practice of not indicting brothers simultaneously, prosecutors released Park’s brother Sunday.

An arrest warrant for Park will be issued at 3 p.m. Sunday after deliberation by prosecutors.

On the claim that the investigation is retaliation given the ruling camp’s defeat in the Seoul city referendum on free school lunches, a source of the prosecutors` office said, “Not to affect the referendum on free school lunches, we`ve refrained from external investigation and kept the probe secret,” adding, “We began the probe since the referendum ended and the statute of limitations is nearly expired.”

Kwak said, however, “Since my election, the powers that be have always monitored me since I`m a progressive superintendent. It’s safe to say the probe is aimed at me.”

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