By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter
The bribery scandal involving Taekwang Chief Executive Park Yeon-cha, former President Roh Moo-hyun and his lieutenants is poised to consume aides of the current administration of President Lee Myung-bak.
The prosecution banned Sejoong Namo Chairman Chun Shin-il, a long-time friend of President Lee, from leaving the country, according to an SBS report, Thursday.
Chief prosecutor Hong Man-pyo, who is acting as a de-facto spokesman for the case, refused to confirm the news. If the SBS report is correct, Chun would be the second close associate of Lee to be ensnared in ``Park Yeon-cha gate.''
Choo Bu-ghil, former presidential secretary of public relations and planning, was arrested last month on suspicion of taking bribes from the Taekwang CEO.
He allegedly received more than 100 million won from Park who sought his influence in stopping a National Tax Service audit of his company last September. But Park's maneuver failed with Taekwang, a shoemaker, being audited late last year.
Chun, who formed brotherly ties with Park, was also rumored to have taken part in the lobbying. Observers note that he could be the perfect fit for that role, as the 65-year-old is close to many top officials in the current administration.
Additionally, Chun is a long-time confidant of President Lee as both studied at Korea University starting 1961. Heading the Seoul-based university's alumni association, Chun is widely believed to have played a significant role in the election of the President.