Yoon Tae-Sik Participated in Cheong Wa Dae Event

The Seoul District Prosecution is investigating a director of the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) and a reporter of a press company regarding the Yoon Tae-Sik lobby case.

According to the Prosecution, Mr. Yoon installed a fingerprint verification system for free in a department of MIC and received 200 stocks of Pass 21 at face value (5,000 won each).

Director Lee insisted, "I bought the stocks through a legal procedure without having any relation to my job."

The Prosecution is also investigating whether more personnel of the political circle and the government are related to the lobby since Yoon participated in the `New Millennium, A Meeting With Venture Business Persons` presided by the President in January 1st last year and other meetings in Cheong Wa Dae.

The Prosecution arrested Chung Soo-Yong (41), former PD of SBS, yesterday for the charge of alleged forgery, receiving corporation card and cash 40 million won, and 1000 stocks of Pass 21 for the broadcasting of the program related to the Yoon`s business.

Mr. Chung was charged for receiving 1000 stocks of Pass 21, valuing 200 million won in the market, with the request to "request the PD in charge to prevent the air of a program dealing with Suzy Kim case."

Mr. Chung is also suspicious of spending 11.7 million won from 40 million won and the corporation card that he had received in February and March.

According to the Prosecution, Mr. Chung requested for 1 billion won for the prevention of the program broadcasting and received stocks and cash but the program schedule was not changed later on.

Mr. Chung reportedly denied the suspicion saying, "I bought the stocks at a face value but did not paid for yet and the 40 million won is the money the Mr. Yoon invested for the construction of a new building."

The Prosecution revealed that Mr. Yoon met with Mr. Chung by the introduction of the wife of Kim Young-Ryol (Seoul Economy Daily), whom Mr. Yoon had known, after Mr. Yoon was requested for an interview from SBS.

Cheong Wa Dae, Considering Supplementary Reshuffling Rather Than Overall Reshuffling Cabinet

Kim Won-Gil, Minister of Health and Welfare, who is planning to run for the Seoul City major, expressed his intention to return to the New Millennium Democratic Party to the President.

Sources from Minister Kim said that he "will express his intention to return to the party to President Kim Dae-Jung right after the current issues such as the Health Insurance Finance are cleared."

A high-ranking official of Cheong Wa Dae commented that "as far as I know, Mr. Kim already noticed his intention to return to the President. And President Kim Dae-Jung will partially reshuffle the Cabinet including the next Health and Welfare Minister."

Another official of Cheong Wa Dae also revealed that "in addition to Minister Kim, other Ministers who decided to run for the local government election will be changed as well. However, the President are not considering the overall reshuffling of the Cabinet including the Prime Minister and other Ministers."

Wi-Yong Jung gun43@donga.com · Myoung-Gun Lee viyonz@donga.com