By Bae Ji-sook
Staff reporter
The government decided Thursday to dismiss two senior prosecutors for taking bribes in the form of cash, entertainment and sex with prostitutes paid for by a businessman.
The Ministry of Justice relieved Park Gi-joon, chief prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office, and Han Seung-chul, a former chief inspector for the prosecution of their jobs.
Despite their dismissals, the two will still be able to work as lawyers.
Civic groups denounced the decision to allow this, saying it was ignoring the severity of the corruption.
A disciplinary committee at the ministry confirmed that Park was "entertained" by a Busan-based head of a construction company named Chung at a Japanese restaurant in southern Seoul last year. Park reportedly had maintained the corrupt liaison for about 20 years. Han has also received similar perks.
The two were among 100 former and incumbent prosecutors who were "sponsored" by Chung.
Park and Han's identification were revealed through local broadcaster MBC's investigative program "PD Notebook" in April.
An ad hoc investigation team was launched to look into the corrupt practices of prosecutors but it downplayed the illegal deeds as "minor," arguing that their receiving entertainment or sex services was not in return for peddling influence for the businessman.
Park offered to resign in the early stages of the investigation.