100 Thousand Dollars Paid to Lee Sin-Bum by Hong-Gul

It has been known that third son of President Kim Dae-Jung, Hong-Gul, who is now residing in Los Angeles in the U.S., has paid 100 thousand dollars (130 million Won) to former Rep. of the Grand National Party (GNP) as a compensation for withdrawal of civil court proceeding on May last year. This raised some suspicion on the circumstance of the agreement and the sources of compensation money.

It is confirmed also that Hong-Gul agreed to pay a total of 660 thousand dollars (858 million Won) including an additional 560 thousand dollars (728 million Won) to former Rep. Lee.

The fact has exposed to public as the legal representative of Hong-Gul, Yun Seok-Jung (a secretary of the president) submitted a written refutation in January this year to the South Central Court of California that took the civil suit actions of Hong-Gul and former Rep. Lee. GNP spokesperson Nam Kyung-Pil opened a copy of the refutation letter to public on April 17.

Mr. Yun declared in the written refutation that Hon-Gul and he agreed with former Rep. Lee to pay 500 thousand dollars and fifty thousand dollars, respectively, and also take the tag of court proceed expenses of former Rep. Lee. Among the promised payment, one hundred thousand dollars has been already paid.

However, Mr. Yun explained in the letter that further payment was not implemented since former Rep. Lee breached its original promise to maintain the agreed content secret.

The Blue House explained the issue, `We have indirectly asked about the situation to Hong-Gul, and received answers that Hong-Gul agreed to pay in condition that former Rep. Lee withdraw the case since Hong-Gul could not afford the expenses of defense and worried about the intrusion of private life as a son of the president following several accusation of former Rep. Lee.`

The Blue House added, `The agreed amount between Hong-Gul and former Rep. Lee is 560 thousand dollars, not 660 thousand dollars as reported, and the already paid 100 thousand dollars was a loan from a relative of mother side who has resided in Los Angeles for long time,` and `The agreement had once became void as former Rep. breached the secret promise, but later former Rep. Lee agreed revoke all the court proceedings without any condition attached.`

Former Rep. Lee had disputed with Hong-Gul, as Lee demanded the sources of living expenses saying Hong-Gul was living luxuriously purchasing a large house without getting any job in the U.S., but Lee revoked the accusation after the agreement in May last year. However, Lee requested an additional court hearing saying Hong-Gul was not paying the remaining promised amount.

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · Chol-Hi Lee klimt@donga.com