Prosecutors Raid Korea Airport Corp.
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors raided the headquarters of the Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) Tuesday to investigate allegations that its officials took bribes in the process of awarding the right to operate a golf driving range near Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul.
Some 30 investigators seized computers and documents from its offices in Seoul and the homes of two former presidents. Two officials of the Seoul office were questioned. KAC manages all of the nation's 14 domestic and international airports excluding Incheon International Airport.
The aviation authority officials are suspected of having given ``favors'' to Jason International, the operator of driving range ``Pajero,'' as the company failed to pay rent.
In August 2003, Jason International, a sports gear maker, opened the driving range after leasing it from the corporation. Pajero, which is now shut down, was one of the nation's largest driving ranges.
Jason, however, had not paid rent since March 2005, with total overdue rent snowballing to 7.4 billion won ($7.3 million) for the following two years. Some 600 members of the range sued the company as it failed to refund a total of 12 billion won made in guarantee deposits.
KAC notified Jason of the cancellation of the contract in May 2007 and recently selected a new operator.
Prosecutors suspect some corporation officials protected the company as they did not take any action for the firm's failure to pay any rent for two years. Jason is suspected of having provided VIP treatment to KAC's ranking officials.
The bidding process for the new operator is also under suspicion. It is suspected that officials received money and entertainment from one of the bidders. The successful bidding company was established a day before the corporation announced the bidding plan, prosecutors said.