GNP Management Appeared to have Received 10 Billion Won of SK Fund

While the Grand National Party (GNP) is making a stir by having received 10 billion won in slush funds, it is said yesterday that the management of GNP reportedly had encouraged receiving slush funds during the presidential campaign last year.

One of the key members of GNP who met Rep. Choi Don-woong said Choi recently revealed, “A manager of financial affairs called me by phone (under the direction of the management) and said, ‘We’ve previously agreed (to the size of fund) with SK, however SK said it could not trust me but could hand over the money if I go instead’, so I just took charge of the pickup.”

In particular, Rep. Choi had reportedly handed SK funds over to the former director of financial affairs, Lee Jae-hyun, through the personnel from the financial affairs team.

Based on Rep. Choi’s statement, the future investigation by the prosecution is likely to focus on the then-GNP management, including former floor leader Kim Young-il, who might have possibly handled the slush fund transaction with SK.

“I passed 10 billion won (of SK fund) on to the party,” said Rep. Choi, during a closed general meeting in the National Assembly on October 24. “Political funds belong to political issues, and I tried to remain silent to the last moment, but some inevitable evidences were discovered by the prosecution and I could not but make a statement at the third call.”

However, Rep. Choi refused to talk about the party member from whom he had received the instructions.

Regarding the issue, a close key aide of Choi said, “Who might be able to manage such a big fund of 10 billion won except for the main person that officially operated the presidential election budget then?”, strongly hinting at former floor leader Kim who took charge of the campaign finance. “Kim had full powers over financial management,” said one of the leading lawmakers.

In the press conference, GNP leader Choe Byung-yul said, “I’ve talked to Kim over the phone recently. Although it is not clear yet, I’ve heard some details about the fund scandal.”

In the side of former chairman Lee Hwe-chang, they announced, “Lee has heard nothing about SK slush fund. We will wait and see how the result of the investigation comes out.”

“There is no one who knows all about the fund.” said Kim during the conversation by phone with a press reporter. However, he retorted against Rep. Choi by mentioning that “Choi collected money as a general director of financial committee, and I operated the fund in the name of secretary general.”

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com