Former Governor’s Wife, Choo Hey-ran, Took 100 Million Won Bribe

On July 2, 2002, the Special Division of the Suwon District Attorneys’ Office (Kwan Sang-do, Division Chief) summoned and was investigating Choo Hey-ran, the wife of Lim Chang-yol, the former governor of Kyunggi Province for her involvement in the “Boondang Parkview Apartment” allegations. DA’s Office has reportedly found evidence showing she had received 100 million won (approximately $800,000) from the president of the construction company, which built the Parkview Apartment complex. The money was for her role in getting out a construction permit to the company.

DA’s office is expected, as early as 3rd of July, to officially charge her with bribery and arraign her for arrest warrant.

According to the prosecution, in the early last year, Choo took 100 million won from Hong Won-pyo, president of H1 Development (H1), which initiated the Parkview construction, as a bribe for helping H1 to obtain the construction permit.

One prosecutor said, “Choo is in custody as suspect. We have no intention to release her home.”

Construction Law mandates governor’s permit if the constructor wants to build up a building of more than 21 stories or 100,000m2.

A former city council member, Choi (48) was arrested for violation of the Attorney’s Law. He allegedly received huge chunk of money for helping H1 change the zoning for the land upon which Parkview Apartment complex was built up.

Another Choi, an employee of G Construction Company, was also arrested for handing the money over to Choi, the council member, upon H1’s request.

The ex-council member Choi was charged with taking 100 million won bribe. Hong, the president of H1 asked, from November of 1999 to August of 2001, Choi of G Company to give the bribe to the councilman Choi, and he did. The money was for lubricating the screening procedures for the zoning change and construction permit.

The councilman was also charged with taking 5 million won over two occasions from Hong. In return, he passed a council resolution for zoning change and enhanced land capacity.

Jung-Eun Lee bibulus@donga.com lightee@donga.com