Kim Dae-up Expected to Voluntarily Appear Today

Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul District Public Prosecutors` Office confirmed yesterday that Kim Dae-up, via his attorney, notified the division on Saturday that he would appear at 10 am on January 13. Since last November, he has been wanted by the authorities for various charges including imposture of a prosecutor.

Kim, however, changed his mind after the notification, said one of his close friends. Thus, it is too early to tell for sure whether Kim would really report to the prosecution as promised.

Once he makes appearance, the prosecution plans to interrogate him to find out whether he had acted as a police officer and whether, if that is true, detectives ordered, or aided and abetted his imposture. It is alleged that, from June of 2001 to February of 2002, Kim, who was behind bars himself, took part in prosecution of the suspects arrested for the Military Evasion scandal, which was handled by the Special Division 1 of the Seoul District Public Prosecutors` Office.

In addition, the special division also plans to question Kim regarding the military scandal and another defamation charge. The division wants to know how Kim could make the tapes he submitted as evidence for the military evasion by Lee Chung-yon, the first son of Lee Hui-chang, the former leader of Grand National Party. It also conducts a probe to determine whether his remarks against former high-ranking Defense Ministry official Kim In-chong and Chun Tah-jun constitute criminal defamation.

Once the planned probes are completed, the DA`s Office plans to determine the counts it would bring against Kim.

Sang-Rok Lee myzodan@donga.com