Investigation to Begin into Cheong Wa Dae’s Suspected Payment of Summer Bonus

The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) decided to request the Board of Audit and Inspection to conduct an investigation into allegations that Cheong Wa Dae provided all of its 498 staff members with a total of 300 million won for vacation last month.

“It is highly likely that Cheong Wa Dae appropriated excessive money and created false documents to provide bonus for vacation, which is not included in the government budget guideline,” said Lee Moon-ok, chief of the DLP anti-corruption office. “We have already obtained signatures from 604 people and will request the Board of Audit and Inspection on Monday morning to start an investigation.”

“Cheong Wa Dae says that the money was diverted from the pay budget, but there’s no such item as pay for summer vacation. This is why we think it is very likely that they have created documents related to this,” Lee claimed.

Jin-Suk Huh jameshuh@donga.com