Building Probe Target Commits Suicide

Pak Seok-ahn, 60 , the former Seoul Housing Department director who has been under investigation for his involvement in the project of building an annex to Hyundai-Kia Motors’ Twin Building located at Yangjae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, committed suicide by drowning in the Paldang Lake in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do.

About 10:00 a.m. on May 15, Pak, 39, a staff member of the Paldang Water Quality Management Office who was patrolling the lake on a boat, found the body of the former director and reported it to the police.

The former director’s black Grandeur XG was parked at the shoulder of Gwangdong Bridge near Gyeongancheon, 10m away from the place his body was found.

On May 15, the prosecution said the former director was summoned and investigated five times from April 28 to May 12 for his involvement in the process of giving permission to the Twin Building annex construction project. The former director received a summons due 9:30 a.m. on the day he was found dead.

Chae Dong-wook, an investigation planner in the Central Investigation Dept. of the Supreme Public Persecutor’s Office, said, “Pak was under investigation for his involvement in the process of giving permission to the Twin Building annex construction project and for the source of the balance in his purchase of a Grandeur XG, priced at 36.64 million won, at the discounted price of 7.30 million won from Hyundai Motors in July, 2005.”

Chae also said Pak argued he received the 29.34 million won balance from his brother-in-law. The prosecutor summoned and investigated both Pak and his brother-in-law for four hours starting at 1:30 p.m. on May 12.

Pak’s wife opened to the public a three-page note left behind by Pak: “I am innocent but afflicted by the enlarging investigation. I have worked with integrity and done no shameful things. I will choose an honorable way for my family.”

The persecution is going to indict with physical detention Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motors Group, on suspicion of malfeasance in office and misappropriation on May 16.

Chung Eui-sun, president of Kia Motors, and executives of Hyundai Motors Group will be indicted as the investigation of the 130 billion won in slush funds is finished.