Investigation into Fund Raising for Roh

On December 25, the Prosecutor-General’s Office (PGO) received a statement that Yeo Taek-soo, a close confidant to President Roh, and Kim, an executive of K bank, were present when Lee Kwang-jae received 100 million won from Moon Byung-uk, the chairman of Sun & Moon, ahead of the presidential election last year, and it is investigating the actual process.

Yeo was recently interrogated by the prosecution on a charge of receiving 30 million won from Sun & Moon ahead of the presidential election last year, and Kim, who graduated from the same high school as President Roh, is the one who cashed in the 100 million won check that Moon delivered to Lee.

It was also reported that the prosecution received a statement from Kim Sung-rae, the former vice-chairman of Sun & Moon, that another Kim, the executive of K bank, was present when he gave five million won to Lee, and that it is examining its factuality and the actual process.

In regard to this, the prosecution is investigating whether or not this bank executive Kim was involved in the fund-raising for Roh at the time of the presidential election, and if he did any illegal acts in the process.

In addition, the prosecution will indict Seo Jeong-woo, a lawyer who was once a juridical counselor for Lee Hwoi-chang, on a charge of violating the political fund law on December 26.

Seo is charged with receiving illegal fund amounts to 36.2 billion won from major conglomerates ahead of the presidential election: 11.2 billion won from Samsung, 15 billion won from LG, and 10 billion won from Hyundai Motor.

After the indictment, the prosecution will make supplementary investigation regarding whether or not the former leader of the opposition Lee directed him for illegal fund-raising and if he reported the fund raising to Lee and received any illegal fund from other companies.

It will also summon Kim Young-il, who was an official of Grand National Party at that time of the presidential election, again on December 29 and investigate if he was involved in illegal fund raising and how he spent the money.

In regard to the illegal acts of close confidants to President Roh, the prosecution will indict Ahn Hee-jung, who was arrested for receiving illegal fund of 1,140 million won, on a charge of violating the political fund law on December 29.

In addition, on this day it will end the investigation into the close confidants’ illegal act by indicting Choi Do-sul, a former close confidant to President Roh, on an added charge of receiving money from companies other than SK, and chairman of Changshin Textile Co. Kang Kum-won and Moon, old supporters of President Roh, on a charge of violating political fund law.

Tae-Hoon Lee Jin-Kyun Kil jefflee@donga.com leon@donga.com