By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors summoned Seoul Vice Mayor Lee Sang-cheol Tuesday for questioning over an alleged acceptance of bribery from Park Yeon-cha, the scandal-ridden CEO of shoemaker Taekwang.
Lee, 60, a former Chosun Ilbo journalist, was appointed vice mayor for political affairs in May last year. It was the first time for a former media CEO to face questioning since the probe into the bribery scandal surrounding Park started late last year.
Lee is suspected of having received tens of millions of won from Park between late 2006 and early 2007 when he was the president and publisher of Monthly Chosun in return for killing articles about Park.
The monthly magazine carried an article about Taekwang's alleged acquisition of Huchems at a bargain price in its December 2006 issue, and another story in January 2007 about the suspicious purchase and resale of a bus terminal site in South Gyeongsang Province.
The prosecution suspects the CEO gave money to Lee to ensure no unfavorable articles about him were printed. The magazine had not published stories about Park again until the scandal emerged late last year.
Prosecutors questioned him over how he received the money and exactly how much. Lee testified that he met Park once when he was the publisher of the magazine, but denied taking a bribe, according to prosecutors.
Lee was the managing editor of the Chosun Ilbo from 2004 to 2005 and the president of the magazine from 2005 until he became the vice mayor.
Prosecutors also questioned Grand National Party (GNP) lawmaker Kim Jeong-kwon Monday for allegedly taking illegal political donations from Park. Other figures facing similar summons this week include GNP lawmaker Kim Hak-song, South Gyeongsang Province Mayor Kim Tae-ho, and a Busan High Court judge.
Meanwhile, prosecutors said they will soon decide whether to seek another arrest warrant for Sejoong Namo Tour Chairman Chun Shin-il, a close friend of President Lee Myung-bak. A local court rejected a request Tuesday night over Chun's alleged monetary gains from Park in return for helping him evade a tax audit.