Listed eight play truth game with ghost

By Jung Min-ho

Prime Minister Lee-Wan-koo

• Published Apr 16, 2015 4:19 PM KST
• Updated Apr 16, 2015 4:19 PM KST

An escalating corruption scandal involving eight politicians is shaping up to be the biggest challenge yet for President Park Geun-hye.

As of Thursday, none of them has admitted receiving bribes from Sung Woan-jong, a former chairman of Keangnam Enterprises. Yet some evidence has already emerged showing their deep connection with the man, who killed himself on April 9.

Prime Minister Lee-Wan-koo has been accused of taking 30 million won ($27,000) from Sung during a National Assembly by-election in April 2013.

Lee vehemently denied the allegation and told a National Assembly committee Tuesday that he would “forfeit his life if any evidence is found.” Prosecutors have not presented any conclusive evidence; but the credibility of his claim has seriously been damaged after some of his other claims turned out to be lies.

Lee said he was not close to Sung. But after it was revealed that they met 23 times over the past 20 months, with photos taken of their smiling faces, Lee later said “we just didn’t talk about personal matters.”

Besides, Lee claimed that he did not participate in campaign activities for Park’s presidential election campaign in 2012, only to be shown in a video clip giving a speech in support of her at Cheonan, South Chungchong Province.

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo has been under suspicion of taking 100 million won from Sung in 2011 when he was campaigning to become the leader of the Grand National Party (GNP), the predecessor of the Saenuri Party.

Speaking to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, a local daily, Sung said he gave the money through former director of Keangnam, Yun Seung-mo, who was helping Hong's campaign at the time. Prosecutors have so far confirmed that 100 million won was withdrawn from Keangnam’s account. Whether Yun delivered the money to Hong is unclear yet.

Hong denied the accusations, claiming that “I think those who appeared on the list are the ones who refused to do favors for Sung.”

Ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Hong Moon-jong is under investigation for allegedly receiving 200 million won from Sung in 2012. He was one of the leaders of Park’s presidential election camp at the time.

Hong denied that he was close to Sung. But it was later revealed that they met 18 times over the past 20 months, which Hong did not deny. Hong also said that he does not remember whether he visited Resom Spa Castle. But a picture released later shows that they were at the venue together on Nov. 27, 2013, as is indicated in Sung’s diary.

Former Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Kim Ki-choon is suspected of receiving $100,000 in 2006. Sung said he gave Kim the money at a fitness club in Lotte Hotels & Resorts. Kim claimed that the allegations were “malicious and groundless.” What is certain for now is that Kim’s wife was a member of the club at the time.

Another former chief of staff, Heo Tae-yeol, has been accused of receiving a total of 700 million won from Sung on three to four separate occasions in 2007, when he was helping Park, the then-candidate in a GNP presidential primary.

Heo claimed the allegations were “unimaginable” and not factual. He is reportedly preparing for questioning by the prosecution.

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Busan Mayor Seo Byung-soo are under investigation for allegedly receiving 300 million won and 200 million won, respectively, from Sung. No specific dates were written.

Sung supported Yoo’s election campaign last year, delivering a speech in support of him at Lotte Department Store in Bupyeong District of Incheon on May 24. Yoo admitted that he met Sung a few times last year but denied the accusations.

Speaking to Incheon Metropolitan City officials Monday, Seo claimed that he “did not receive anything illegal from anyone” and asked them to focus on their jobs.

Sung did not mention how much money he gave to Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Lee Byung-kee, whose named is written on the list, but said, “If I reveal it, he will probably be forced to resign.”

“He is a good man from Hongseong. But he should behave well,” Sung said. “He has been close to me.”

Just one month after declaring an “all out war” on corruption, the Park administration has found itself facing its own test for transparency.

The affair is a fresh blow to Park, whose popularity ratings remained below 40 percent for a while amid allegations of corruption and a lack of transparency in personnel decisions and state affairs.