Core Figure of Ruling Party Are Suspicious of Being Involved

The special investigation department of Incheon District Prosecutor`s office continued the investigation for two days on Kim Yong-Chae, vice president of United Liberal Democrats (ULD), whether he received 200 million won for lobbying financial circles to discount the bill of Seoul Metal Co. in Namdong industrial complex in Incheon. Mr. Kim is suspected to be involved in the bribery for requesting the provision of public fund to the company.

The Prosecution announced that it will soon request an arrest warrant for Mr. Kim, the vice president of ULD, for the charge of bribery by the specific economic crime punishment aggravation law, saying that "we have collected specific evidences that Mr. Kim received money from Mr. Choi, the former president of Seoul Metal Co. for lobby."

Mr. Kim, however, denied flatly the suspicion saying, "I received money in an orange box twice in 1999, but I immediately returned it through Mr. Kwon (40), the chairman of Dongdaemoon district party chapter of ULD." who introduced Mr. Choi to him.

And the Prosecution found out that, by the introduction of the running Mr. Hur, vice chairperson of Human Rights Special Committee of New Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), Mr. Choi met Mr. H, who was an important figure in Cheong Wa Dae, and is investigating if other politicians are related in providing the company with public fund.

But Mr. Choi stated, "I didn`t give money to Mr. H." and Mr. H explained, "when I was working for Cheong Wa Dae, Mr. Choi approached but I kept him away."

Meanwhile, Mr. Kwon, who linked Mr. Kim with Mr. Choi, reportedly escaped the prosecutor`s office avoiding surveillance while he was being investigated in the special investigation department of Incheon District Prosecutor`s office saying, "I`ll stop by the restroom." The Prosecutor`s office banned Mr. Kwon and Mr. Hur from leaving abroad for the suspicion that each received 30 million and 50 million won from Mr. Choi, and is searching for them.

Hee-Jae Park min07@donga.com