Health officials under probe for alleged bribery

Two ranking officials from the health ministry are under investigation after claims they took bribes from a local hospital in exchange of influence-peddling, the prosecution said Thursday.

The director of a hospital in Buan, North Jeolla Province allegedly illegally paid two unidentified ranking officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare in exchange for the hospital receiving subsidies from the government’s emergency medical funds.

They are suspected of receiving 20 million won each between 2008 and 2011 from the hospital director. Investigators raided the office of the director of the hospital and will soon indict the three on bribery charges.

But the two officials are denying the allegations, claiming they only received a gift from the director and never peddled influence in favor of him.

The hospital director was indicted last year on charges of embezzling 1.4 billion won from a subsidy from the government’s emergency medical funds.

The health ministry said they will take necessary steps once the investigation results are announced.