Ex-Gwangju mayor investigated over source of money lost in scam

By Kim Hyun-bin

Former Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun, who fell victim to voice phishing by sending 450 million won ($400,000) to a scammer claiming to be former first lady Kwon Yang-sook, is now under investigation over how he got the money.

According to the investigation findings, he may face charges of violating laws on election and political fundraising.

The Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office said Tuesday the former mayor borrowed 350 million won from two banks between last December and January this year, and borrowed the remaining 100 million won from an acquaintance, to send the money to the scammer, surnamed Kim, 49, who represented herself as former President Roh Moo-hyun's widow.

Prosecutors have been looking into the source of the funds and the reason for the money transfer, which was made during a time when competition for party nominations in the June local elections was at its height.

Yoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was seeking a second term and prosecutors are investigating to see if the money was sent as a kickback to curry favor with Roh's former aides, who still hold influence within the party, and thus boost his chances to receive a nomination. In that case, he could have violated the political funds law.

According to the prosecution, Yoon received a text message in December from a woman identified as Kwon, who said she needed 500 million won urgently for her daughter. Yoon had been close to Roh and met Kwon several times, and he said the woman's voice sounded exactly like Kwon's.

Until the investigation began in October, Yoon had not been aware he was fooled.

The suspect has a criminal record and prosecutors are looking into other relevant cases as Kim sent similar texts to several other Gwangju-based politicians. However, Yoon was the only person who fell victim as others saw through the scam.