Kim’s Disclosure and Ensuing Criminal Complaint Against GNP

Kim Dae-up (41), who served in the army as a medical officer and participated in the prosecution of the military evasion scandal, alleged on July 31, 2002, “I have a hard evidence. I can prove that Mrs. Han In-ok (41), the wife of the Grans National Party’s presidential candidate Lee Hui-chang, played a role in illegally exempting her sons from military service.”

Kim’s allegation was made at a conference held in the pressroom of the Seoul District of the Public Prosecutors’ Office. In the conference, he argued, “Here are various kinds of evidence supporting her involvement. Once the Prosecutors’ Office starts probe into this matter, the truth will come out.”

Kim also contended, “I have transcripts of the conversation among the people on hand at a meeting,” concerning the allegation that sons of Lee then presidential candidate of New Korea Party evaded the military service. The party members held the meeting to deal with the scandal that was made public just before the ’97 presidential election.

Kim in recent interviews with some media companies asserted, “Last January, some K, a high-ranking officials at the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), stated before a prosecutor ‘Right before the ’97 presidential election, an aid to Candidate Lee and a congressman of New Korea Party came to the MMA and discussed ways of destroying the medical records on one of Lee’s sons.’”

Kim said, “The Prosecutors’ Office, as far as I know, subpoenaed other people to determine out the truthfulness of K’s statement.”

Kim also filed a criminal complaint with the Seoul District of the Public Prosecutors’ Office, accusing 4 members of the Grand National Party (GNP) and Candidate Lee, “The GNP defamed me through publication of false statements and comments alleging that I committed an imposture as an agent investigating the military evasion.”

In the meanwhile, the GNP’s spokesperson Nam Kyung-pil reputed, “This government, a group of experts of political manipulation, buttered off the professional con Kim Dae-up. Then, using him, the government forged up false facts. In other words, the government has embarked on a sophisticated political maneuvering to harm our Candidate Lee.” The GNP itself cast doubt on the credibility of Kim’s allegation by saying, “Kim has a long history of running into law as a con artist. He served three jail terms and ran into law five times for fraud and coercion. He is a habitual violator. In addition, we have obtained evidence proving that a political figure is behind Kim. The person has monetarily sponsored Kim’s press conferences.”

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com