“It`s Ruling Side`s Political Funds“ , “3 Lawmakers of GNP Are Involved“

The Board of Audit and Inspection set for a special investigation in the corrupted venture businesses and the Prosecution is also on the process of the secret examination on some venture businesses, magnifying the stirs about the corruption of venture industry.

Particularly, responding to the Grand National Party`s allegation that some Presidential runners of the ruling New Millennium Democratic Party are involved in the corruption cases of venture industry, NMDP hinted 3 persons of GNP are involved in the venture corruption cases.

A lawmaker of GNP said yesterday that "a high official of the government reported me that the Prosecution is investigating on two famed venture businesses and one representative director of a company, who was a government official, will be summoned soon."

He also added that "one of the two is enlisted in Kosdaq but the other is not. I haven`t heard of any detail suspicions that the Prosecution is investigating."

Lee Jae-Oh, the floor leader of GNP, revealed that the party "had 24 reports about the illegal venture business activities and the party is verifying the details of 10 cases. The credible reports will be released during the extraordinary session of the National Assembly in February."

A related sources from GNP said, "we are investigating on the rebates for the support of venture industry and the connections between the venture business and the Presidential runners of NMDP."

Meanwhile, a high official of NMDP said, "GNP would not want to say anything about venture industry corruption. We have enough information but will stand until the party`s Presidential candidate is decided." pointing out two influential figures and a first elected lawmaker of GNP.

Lee Myung-Sik, vice spokesperson of NMDP, also argued that "floor leader Lee Jae-Oh must reveal immediately who are the Presidential runners of our party who manipulated the stock market of venture industry and how much money they accumulated from it. If he cannot, he must take legal and political responsibility for the spread of false information."

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com · Young-Chan Yoon yyc11@donga.com