SK execs questioned over bribery

Former SK Vice Chairman Kim Young-tae enters the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Thursday. Kim and a current and a former SK executive were questioned about money the company gave to foundations that former President Park Geun-hye's friend Choi Soon-sil controlled. / Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

Prosecutors questioned one current and two former SK Group executives, Thursday, over bribery allegations as part of an investigation into the massive corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

Kim Chang-geun, former chairman of the group’s top decision-making committee, former SK Vice Chairman Kim Young-tae and Lee Hyung-hee, chief of the group’s TV service unit SK Broadband, were summoned for questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

They are suspected of playing key roles in offering bribes to the foundations controlled by the former president’s friend Choi Soon-sil in return for releasing group chairman Chey Tae-won from prison through a special pardon as well as other business favors.

Kim Chang-geun, who led the group while the chairman was in prison, had a private meeting with Park on July 24, 2015. After the meeting, he approved a decision to “donate” a total of 11.1 billion won ($9.8 million) to the Mir and K-Sports foundations.

Also, in his mobile message to former presidential secretary An Chong-bum on Aug. 13 that year, Kim Chang-geun said, “We will never forget your great kindness for granting a pardon to Chairman Chey. I offer you my heartfelt thanks on behalf of all SK family members.”

Chey, who was serving time for embezzlement and other financial crimes, was released two days later.

Kim Chang-geun denied the allegation while entering the prosecutors’ office, but he refused to answer reporters’ questions about the text message.

According to the special investigation team led by independent counsel Park Young-soo, Kim Young-tae visited Chey a few days before the pardon and told him things that imply a “deal” between Park and SK.

Kim Young-tae also denied the allegation.

Lee has long been in charge of dealing with government officials at SK. Prosecutors believe if such a deal really was made, he would have played an important role.

In addition, SK is suspected of receiving favors from the government in the duty free bidding process to recover its lost license. Last year, the government suddenly alleviated requirements for companies seeking duty free licenses and allocated four new duty free licenses, sparking suspicions that the measure was in favor of certain companies.

Earlier this week, the prosecution called in Korea Customs Services officials who deal with license-related work over the suspicion.

After Samsung and Hyundai Motor, SK was the third-largest donor to the shady foundations. Over bribery allegations, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has already been arrested.

Lotte, which gave 4.5 billion won to the foundations, is expected to be the next target. Shin Dong-bin, the group’s chairman, was questioned last year by the prosecution during its first round of the investigation. Then it paused after the independent counsel initiated a special team to investigate the scandal.