Prosecution Investigates Against Hyundai and SK Shipping Bribery to Politicians

The Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Public Prosecutor`s Office is reported to be in preparation for subpoenaing two or three members of the ruling and opposition parties who are allegedly involved in illegal bribing cases of Hyundai and SK Shipping Co.

The investigating team is especially focusing on whether the politicians bribed by Hyundai released permissions to casino businesses in areas around Gumgang Mountain.

The prosecution is also investigating the whereabouts of tens of billions of secret money in addition to the 20 billion won that the former Democratic Party Advisor Kwon Roh-kap received from Hyundai druign the 2000 general election.

The investigation team detected that the additional money might have come from a different source company and is trying to find out exact channels and causes of the incidence.

But, Senior Investigator Moon Hyo-nam said, “Kwon `s additional secret money has nothing to do with SK Shipping`s 210 billion won worth of secret money accumulated through window-dressing practice.”

The prosecution plans to separate SK Shipping`s secret money channels to political line from its window-dressing malpractice in the process of investigation.

It is known to have transferred the former to the First Investigation Team which is in charge of the case involving secret political money laundering by the former Culture and Tourism Minister Park Ji-won.

The Prosecution had an enforcement investigation against Park for his reception of 15 billlion won from Hyundai and will additionally charge him with the count of receiving bribes on the basis of Specific Crime Punishment Law on September 4th.

The Former Minister Park was indicted for transferring the illegal 500 million won to the North Korea right before the historic South –North Summit in June, 2000 and will be brought to the first trial on September 5th.

Sang-Rok Lee Jin-Young Hwang myzodan@donga.com buddy@donga.com