Scandal might involve politicians

The National Assembly committee on political affairs has called Dongbank Mutual Savings vice chairman Lee Kyung-Ja, Korea Digital Line president Chung Hyun-Joon, 10 other businessmen and 10 officials of the Financial Supervisory Service as witnesses in connection with the illegal lending scandal of Dongbang.

Among other witnesses are Jang Rae-Chan, former bank supervision bureau director of the Financial Supervisory Service, Yoo Cho-Woong, president of Dongbang Mutual Savings, Chang Sung-Hwan, president of Yu-Il Semiconductor, Kim Sook-Hyun, advieser of Daishin Mutual Savings, Lee Soo-Won, president of Daishin Mutual Savings, and Kwon Oh-Seung, investment consultant of Hana Securities.

Rep. Chung Hyung-Keun of the Grand National Party called for an investigation of the scandal at the National Assembly inspection of the administration, saying that there are reports that the Finance-Economy Ministry's director-general, a member of the Democratic Millennium Party and a reporter of an economic journal are involved in the fabrication of Littauer Technologies Co. Ltd.

Also, Rep. Lim Jin-Chul of the Grand National Party noted that a number of former and current executives of Korea Asset Management Corp. had substantial deposits in Dongbang Mutual Savings when the scandal occurred.

Meanwhile, the Commerce, Industry and Energy Committee of the National Assembly has adopted representatives of four refinery companies, including Kim Han-Kyung, president of SK Corp., Huh Dong-Soo, president of LG-Caltex Oil and Chung Mong-Hyuk, president of Hyundai Oil, as witnesses with suspicion of colluding on prices.

Song In-Soo issong@donga.com