Incheon Mayor Choi Ki-Sun to Be Summoned for Bribery

The Special Investigation Team on the public funds scandal (headed by Kim Jong-Bin, Director-General of the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Public Prosecutors` Office) announced yesterday that it will summon Incheon Mayor Choi Ki-Sun at 2 p.m. on 10th because Choi is suspected of receiving 300 million won from Daewoo Motor Sales (DMS), which is located in Incheon.

Mayor Choi is suspected of taking 300 million won from DMS in 1999 with its special request for rezoning of a site from natural green zone to commercial zone in Songdo, Incheon, where the DMS planned to construct Daewoo Center.

After investigating Choi about the circumstances of receiving money, the prosecution plans to seek legal punishment if he accepted the money in return for his favor.

However, an official of the Incheon City said, “The suspicion is not true, and Mayor Choi will disclose the truth when he appears at the prosecutors` office.” While the Donga Ilbo has tried to talk to Mayor Choi over the telephone, he refused to take its call.

The prosecution also announced that it had arrested Jeon Byung-Hee (57, President of the Construction Business of the DMS) with the charge of breach of trust according to the aggravated punishment law for special economic crime. Jeon damaged 3.2 billion won to the DMS by overpaying construction cost to a subcontract firm.

The prosecution suspects that the DMS retook the overpaid construction expenses from the Jawoon Engineering Co. as rebate to make a secrete fund. Thus it is investigating whether the money was handed to the powerful politicians and government officials as bribes.

GNP Requested National Assembly Investigation Into Kim Hong-Up & Three Scandals

The Grand National Party (GNP) submitted yesterday a National Assembly investigation request form to investigate into the Kim Dae-Jung Peace Foundation for the Asia-Pacific Region (KDJPF) and the President`s second son Kim Hong-Up`s involvement in `Lee Yong-Ho, Jung Hyun-Joon, and Jin Seung-Hyun Gates.`

According to the request form, the GNP said, “All kinds of gates that symbolize the current government`s corruption are finally linked to the KDJPF and Kim Hong-Up.” It asked an organization of the `20 people special committee` for a National Assembly investigation.

Responding to this, Lee Nak-Yeon, Spokesman of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), flattery refused that, “The GNP`s request does not meet the requirement of the law and is just a political attack.” The United Liberal Democrats also said, “We cannot agree on a National Assembly investigation for a political purpose.” Therefore, a National Assembly investigation would not invoke.

Soo-Hyung Lee sooh@donga.com · Wi-Yong Jung viyonz@donga.com