Governor Hong questioned for 17 hours

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo is leaving the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul. / Yonhap

By Ko Dong-hwan

• Published May 9, 2015 1:49 PM KST
• Updated May 9, 2015 1:49 PM KST

South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo left the Supreme Prosecutors' Office early Saturday morning after a 17-hour intensive interrogation on charges of taking bribes from the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong.

Hong looked fatigued when he left the office at about 3:20 a.m.

"I did my best," he told reporters. "I may face further interrogations."

Hong refused to say if he had met former Keangnam vice president Yun Seung-mo, at the National Assembly.

Yun had told the prosecution he had delivered 100 million won ($92,000) from Sung to Hong in June 2011 when Hong was running for chairmanship of the ruling Grand National Party, now the Saenuri Party.

According to Yun, Hong was there when the money was delivered. Hong claimed he did not remember any such meeting.