Controversy Intensifies over External Pressure on SK Investigation

Lee Suk-hwan, working for the prosecution`s SK probe team, unveiled during a debate with President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday that there were "external pressures" on the prosecution`s investigation into the illegal stock transaction allegations involving SK executives. Amid growing controversy over his remarks, Rep. Lee Sang-soo, secretary general of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), admitted Monday to having made phone calls to prosecutors in charge of the SK Group case.

Lee said during a press interview, “I made a call to the chief prosecutor after SK chairman Kim Gak-young was arrested and explained that it would be better for the prosecution to conduct a balanced investigation and adjust the speed of the probe.”

"The new government and the prosecution had no channel for consultations. I was concerned when making a phone call as secretary-general of the ruling party, but I did so in a fair and clean manner," Lee went on to say, adding he was never asked for a favor by SK.

When asked about donations SK made during the presidential election last year, he only answered the amount was large. Concerning prosecutor Lee`s remark about “someone could be hurt,” he rebuffed that the remark was a nonsense.

"It constitutes external pressures that the secretary general of the ruling party made phone calls to senior-level prosecutors to talk about an ongoing investigation," said Park Hee-tae, leader of the opposition Grand National Party. “The prosecutor must file a case against those who applied external pressures including secretary general Lee, and President Roh must instruct a thorough investigation into this case.”

Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com