Lee Hyung-Taek Solicited to Stop Investigation on Lee Yong-Ho through Close Aides of Kim Hong-Up

Special Prosecutor Cha Jeong-Il learned that Lee Hyung-Taek, former executive of Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation, solicited Kim Sung-Hwan, a close aide of the President`s second son Kim Hong-Up "to stop the investigation by informing former Prosecutor General Shin Seung-Nam that his brother Shin Seung-Hwan received money."

Special Prosecution team (SP) summoned Lee Ki-Ho, former senior secretary to the President, who arranged a meeting with the late Um Ik-Joon, former second deputy director general of the National Intelligence Service, for Lee Hyung-Taek with regard to the treasure excavation project.

SP examined the reason why Mr. Lee K.H. made a false explanation about the NIS report that acknowledged the high possibility of the treasure burial and whether he delivered the project plan to other high-ranking officials.

Kim Sung-Hwan denied the suspicion that "He requested the investigation be suspended or informed the fact to Prosecutor General Shin even though he was solicited." However, suspicions about the circumstances and the process that Lee H.T. solicited Kim S.H. are increasing.

Particularly, considering that Shin S.N. already knew that his brother Shin S.H had received money before the official report to him was made, the possibility that Shin S.N. learned it from Kim Sung-Hwan or was solicited for the suspension of the investigation is high.

SP officially announced that "Lee Hyung-Taek testified in a recent investigation that he requested Kim Sung-Hwan to inform former Prosecutor General Shin the fact that Mr. Shin S.W. received 50 million won from Lee Yong-Ho in September last year."

According to SP, Kim S.H. admitted that he was solicited by Lee Hyung-Taek but he clarified that he ignored it and never made any request to former Prosecutor General Shin in relation to the case.

However, SP is suspicious of the authenticity of Kim S.H.`s testimony and is planning to summon him again for further investigation.

SP thinks that Kim S.H. had probably visited the office of former Prosecutor General Shin and had maintained close communication, considering that Lee Hyung-Taek solicited Kim S.H. SP will summon Shin S.H. after conducting additional investigations on the lobbyist activities.

Meanwhile, the Kim Hong-Up side denied the allegation, saying that "I have never met with Lee Yong-Ho at all and I am not involved in any suspicion or Gates. The investigation of Lee Hyung-Taek has nothing to do with me and, if Kim S.H. solicited through power circles, he simply made a fraudulent use of my name."

Kim Sung-Hwan, who went to the same high school and joined ROTC at the same period with Kim Hong-Up, is operating his own business and has kept a close connection with former Prosecutor General Shin.

Wi-Yong Jung myzodan@donga.com · viyonz@donga.com