Repay for the Presidential Election Campaign Debts with SK Funds

The Chief Prosecutor of the Ministry of Justice, Ahn Dae-hee, who was in charge of the investigation of SK Group’s bribery case, summoned Choi Do-sul, Roh’s personal aide, and investigated on October 14 whether he had accepted illegal funds after last year’s presidential election and used them in order to repay for the election campaign debt during the presidential election campaign.

The prosecution revealed that the breakaway group’s Rep. Lee Sang-soo handled the receipt after receiving 2.5 billion won from SK Group during his activity as the director of Central Election Counterplan Committee before the presidential election, however one billion out of 2.5 billion exceeded the limit of backing funds and accordingly he violated the positive law.

Regarding Choi, the prosecution will ask for a warrant of arrest early on October 15, and as for Rep. Lee they will make a decision on the room for penal responsibility after letting him go home.

According to the prosecution there is a high possibility that Choi had received 1.1 million won from SK Group after the solicitation through Lee, President Roh’s high school senior classmate, and used them in order to repay the debts incurred during the presidential election campaign.

The prosecution, however, said that Choi met SK Chairman Son Kil-seung last December but is denying the suspicion of receiving SK funds and is trying to transfer his responsibilities to Rep. Lee.

The prosecution also revealed that of SK’s 2.5 billion won fund, Rep. Lee received 1.5 billion of that, which were normal backing funds, from 10 SK affiliates last December 6. However, there is a high possibility of illegal political funds because one billion that he received in the name of 33 SK executive officers last December 17 exceeded the limits of trust money for support.

“During the presidential election, the limits of backing funds were almost exceeded. Therefore, we raised backing funds through the supporters’ association of Congressmen - Cheon Jung-bae of the Keongki province branch and Lee Ho-ung of the Incheon branch - and then received SK funds through the Cheju branch on October 17,” said Rep. Lee in a press room before the investigation.

The prosecution thinks that Rep. Lee conspired with SK Group and accepted illegal political funds separately through the SK executive officers’ name. However, Rep. Lee reportedly said that he did not play a major role in receiving the one billion won.

Wi-Yong Jung Jin-Kyun Kil viyonz@donga.com leon@donga.com