Lawmaker Charged With Receiving Money for Political Support

Special Section Two of the Seoul Prosecutor’s Office (Director: Nam Gi-choon) summoned and investigated Ruling Uri Party lawmaker Kim Hee-sun (picture) on March 3 on charges of allegedly receiving money from a candidate running for the chief of a ward, in return for support in the election.

The lawmaker told reporters in the Seoul Prosecutor’s Office yesterday afternoon, “I borrowed money to help the operations of the district office that is in financially difficult situation.” She went on to say, “I am here to explain in objective and scientific ways to solve the misunderstandings of prosecutors in some areas.” Then, she headed to an interrogation room.

The prosecutor’s office looked into how and why the lawmaker took 170 million won from “Song,” who was running in the election of the Democratic candidate for the position of headman of Dongdaemun-gu in the run-up to Kim’s election for local government heads in 2002.

The prosecutors are planning to indict the lawmaker on charges of breach of trust if it is proven the money was received in return for illegitimate favors.

Grand National Party lawmaker Kim Choong-hwan, who got a summons notification along with lawmaker Kim Hee-sun, did not appear in the Prosecutors’ office on that day.

Jin-Young Hwang buddy@donga.com