Senior presidential aide resigns over bribery scandal
By Kim Rahn
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Jun Byung-hun
Senior presidential secretary for political affairs Jun Byung-hun resigned Thursday following growing bribery allegations involving him and his former aides.
It was the second resignation of a top presidential aide since President Moon Jae-in took power in May, following the first by former National Security Office vice head Kim Ki-jung in June.
Jun’s move came a day after the prosecution said it was going to summon him for questioning over suspicions in relation to his time as honorary chairman of the Korea e-Sports Association.
“I tendered my resignation today,” Jun said in a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae. “I tried my best to support the President, but I feel miserable for causing him trouble as a result.”
He apologized for corruption allegations against his former aides, but denied any involvement in them.
“I’ve made selfless efforts to dispel unjust misunderstandings and prejudices against the game industry, and to develop esports and the game industry. I’ve never been involved in any illegal activities.”
Jun said he would reveal the truth through the prosecution’s investigation.
Three former aides to Jun, including one surnamed Yoon, were arrested earlier this month for allegedly laundering 110 million won out of 300 million won donated by Lotte Homeshopping to the association in 2015.
At that time, Jun belonged to the National Assembly Broadcasting and Communications Committee. The TV home shopping operator’s donation to the association was suspected as being a part of efforts to seek Jun’s influence as an incumbent lawmaker to renew its broadcasting license.
The association’s former secretary-general, surnamed Cho, told prosecutors Yoon had told him he needed money for Jun’s 2016 general election campaign. But later Jun failed to win nomination as a candidate.
Prosecutors plan to question Jun to find out who was the final recipient of the alleged bribes. They may summon Jun as early as next week, and he will be the first ranking official of the Moon government to face questioning.
The association also allegedly let Yoon use its corporate credit card, and paid salaries of a secretary and an intern at Jun’s office for about one year.
Regarding Jun’s resignation, the minor opposition People’s Party called for a fair investigation.
“Jun, as a member of the broadcasting committee, had power to influence the license renewal of a home shopping channel,” party spokesman Rep. Son Kum-ju said, adding Jun needs to take responsibility for corruption by his aides even if he is innocent as he claims.
“The Moon administration’s first goal is to eradicate deep-rooted social evils. For faithful eradication, he needs to take a stricter attitude toward himself and his aides.”
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party said the scandal showed parts of the true nature of the Moon government, which “defined former conservative administrations as evils and packaged itself as a good one.”
“For the prosecution to regain public trust, it should conduct a fair and strict investigation into those in power,” party spokeswoman Rep. Jun Hee-kyung said.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea only said in a statement, “We respect Jun’s decision.”