Ex-presidential secretary faces detention

By Lee Kyung-min

Park Bum-hoon

Park Bum-hoon, a former residential secretary for education, is facing detention as prosecutors extend their investigation into his alleged corrupt ties with Chung-Ang University and Doosan Group.

The prosecution asked Seoul Central District Court to issue a detention warrant for Park, Monday, because of his suspected involvement in embezzlement, breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of power, bribery, and violation of the Private School Law. The court is widely expected to issue the warrant.

Park was questioned on April 30 for 19 hours. He has denied the allegations, the prosecution said.

Some Doosan officials might face questioning including Park Yong-sung, former chairman of the university’s foundation and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.

Earlier this month, prosecutors questioned former Doosan President Lee Tae-hee, Park Yong-sung's close aide.

The former chairman resigned from both posts last month following public uproar in response to e-mail correspondence coming to light containing his habitual abuse of the university’s professors and faculty members.

The prosecution said that he is suspected of peddling influence with the Ministry of Education in 2012 to allow the integration of the university’s two campuses despite failing to meet requirements. Doosan purchased the university in 2007.

Park served as the university president until being appointed secretary in 2011 under the Lee Myung-bak administration.

Already, the prosecution reportedly secured testimonial evidence after questioning key former and incumbent officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the ministry.

The prosecution suspects that Doosan offered Park an outside director position at Doosan Engineering.

It has also alleged that Park’s wife obtained of ownership of two shops in Doosan Tower in 2011 as part of “preferential treatment” by Doosan.

The prosecution is also looking into whether any irregularities were in play regarding Park’s daughter being employed as a professor at the university.

Suspicions are that the university changed the job requirements in favor of Park’s daughter who was fluent in Chinese, not in English.