Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Aide of President’s brother arrested
By Kim Rahn
Prosecutors are investigating an aide of Grand National Party lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk, the elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak, in a bribery scandal involving a local business group.
The prosecution took the aide, identified as Park, into custody Thursday morning from his home in Gyeonggi Province, on suspicion of taking bribes from SLS Group Chairman Lee Kuk-chul in exchange for peddling influence.
The move came amid a widening probe into lobbying allegations, in which the chairman and former Culture Minister Shin Jae-min have already been arrested for offering and receiving kickbacks, respectively.
Park allegedly received money and a Cartier watch worth 5 million won from the head of Daeyoung Logics who is also allegedly involved in the scandal. The company head, identified as Moon, was arrested on charges of accepting 780 million won from the SLS chairman in exchange for helping the group avoid being placed in a workout program.
It was confirmed Park received the watch but returned it after the investigation began. He is denying the allegation of receiving additional money, but prosecutors said they have confirmation through Moon’s testimony and bank account records.
They are considering seeking an arrest warrant for Park soon.