Former PM attends court hearing

Former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo answers reporters’ questions before the first hearing about allegations he accepted a bribe, at the Seoul Central District Court, southern Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

By Kim Se-jeong

Former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo attended the first hearing in the case of his alleged acceptance of a bribe from a businessman, Friday.

Lee, 65, arrived at the Seoul Central District Court around 2 p.m.

It was the first time he had appeared in public in 140 days. He had suspended his activities since May 15 when he underwent questioning from the prosecutors about the accusation. Lee resigned from the prime minister post in April, only two months after taking the position.

Before entering the court, reporters asked him what he did during his days in seclusion. Lee said, “I’ve thought about what I must do to reveal the truth.”

He also said he would reveal everything in court, adding, “There’s nothing that can beat the truth.”

Lee was indicted for allegedly taking 30 million won from Sung Woan-jong, the late former chairman of Keangnam Enterprises, in April 2013 at his election camp in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, when he was running in the by-election.

While the prosecution says Sung visited the office, by presenting evidence such as surveillance camera footage showing Sung’s car passing through the Buyeo tollgate, the former prime minister has denied such a meeting took place. Prosecutors said they submitted new evidence against him for the trial, but did not elaborate.

Lee is also an incumbent lawmaker from the ruling Saenuri Party, and if he is found guilty, he could lose his parliamentary seat as well and be banned from running for political office for five years.

He was one of eight politicians listed on a memo which Sung left behind before killing himself on April 9 amid the prosecution’s investigation into a company corruption scandal. In the note, Sung wrote the names of politicians who allegedly received money from him.

Of the eight figures, the prosecution indicted only Lee and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, without physical detention in July.

Hong is accused of receiving 100 million won from the late businessman through a former company executive in June 2011. He will also have his first hearing soon, with the date not yet decided.

The other six were: Rep. Hong Moon-jong of the ruling Saenuri Party; Busan Mayor Seo Byung-soo; Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok; presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee; and two former chiefs of staff, Huh Tae-yeol and Kim Ki-choon.