Park Joon-Young Met With Yoon Tae-Sik Several Times

Yoon Tae-Sik, major shareholder of Pass 21 who was indicted for the `Suzie Kim Murder Case` had met with Park Joon-Young, Minister of the Government Information Agency, several times before Mr. Yoon was arrested by the Prosecution last year.

Consequently, the Prosecutors` investigation of circumstances surrounding their meetings and the question of whether they are related to lobbying political and bureaucratic circles seems inevitable.

President Kim Dae-Jung is reportedly considering dismissing Mr. Park from his office.

According to the sources from the political circle and the Prosecution, Mr. Park had maintained a close relationship with Mr. Yoon and listened to Mr. Yoon`s explanation of Pass 21 since he first met with Mr. Yoon in the early part of 2000 when he was a spokesperson for the Cheong Wa Dae.

Mr. Park also had dinner with Mr. Yoon right before Mr. Yoon was arrested in October last year.

Therefore, Mr. Park is suspected to have played a certain role in arranging Mr. Yoon`s meeting with the President and the business fair for the high officials of the government.

Meanwhile, Mr. Yoon met Namgoong Seuk, then Minister of Information and Communication, with Kim Young-Ryol, CEO of the Seoul Economic Daily, by the introduction of Kim Jeong-Gil, then senior secretary to the President, to request the newspaper`s support for Pass 21 in December 1999.

Former Senior Secretary Kim resigned from office in November 1999 and became a chairperson of the Yeong-do chapter in Pusan of the New Millennium Democratic Party.

The Prosecution will summon former lawmaker Kim Hyun-Kyu, an inspector of Pass 21 who is suspected to have introduced Mr. Yoon to Mr. Park and former senior secretary Kim.

As the lobbyist activities of Mr. Yoon with regard to high-ranking officials in the Cheong Wa Dae are coming to light, Prosecution`s investigation will move to clarify the nature of the relationship between Mr. Yoon and Mr. Kim and the political authorities of the government.

The Prosecution may summon Mr. Park, former senior secretary Kim and former Minister Namgoong this week, depending on the outcomes of the investigation on former lawmaker Kim.

Minister Park explained, "I met with Mr. Yoon when I was a spokesperson of the Cheong Wa Dae but I never received any money or was involved in lobbying activities. Mr. Yoon appeared suddenly and identified himself as a venture businessperson. And he explained Pass 21 technology saying, `I made some money and now want to use it for good.` "

Mr. Park added, "He often visited me without notice after that. And I met him after I moved to the Government Information Agency in September last year."

Meanwhile, the Prosecutors Office requested for the arrest warrants for Kang Seung-Sam (48), director of venture investment team, and Kim Hyung-Jin (42), vice director of the Korea Industrial Development, for the charge of receiving stocks and cash from one Mr. Kim, who was the CEO of one B fingerprint verification technology company that later became Pass 21 during 1999-2000 to invest 500 million won in the business.

The Prosecution disclosed that Mr. Kang Seung-Sam received 50 million won for a rebate and Mr. Kim received 33 million won cash and bought 2500 stocks, which value about 100 million won in the market, of company B with 25 million won.

Myoung-Gun Lee myzodan@donga.com · gun43@donga.com