8-fold Implication
On April 10 the suicide note of Keangnam Enterprises' former Chairman Sung Wan-jong, a former member of the Saenuri Party, was disclosed to the public. In response, the opposition party and some civic groups have called for the launch of a special investigation team.
Yoo Seung-hee, a New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Supreme Council member, said, “The suicide note of former Chairman Sung should be open to the public, and an investigation of an independent counsel team into his death should be carried out as well.”
As former Chairman Sung admitted to giving bribes to influential figures in political power, it is alleged to be difficult to clarify substantial truth through a prosecution investigation alone.
The Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) also said, “If the prosecution avoids getting to the bottom of the issue, it will face stiff national resistance, including the introduction of a special prosecution.”
However, the formal position of the opposition group says, “Let’s wait and see.” NPAD Spokesperson Kim Sung-soo said, “The investigation of the independent counsel team is possible, but this is not the time for the request yet.”
Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung commented on the situation by saying, “A thorough investigation by the prosecution should come before the special investigation team,” in an urgent press conference on April 12.
He said, “The prosecution should eliminate all the suspicions of the people by investigating rapidly and thoroughly without boundaries. The Saenuri Party will lead and make sure that there would be no external pressure on the prosecution.”
In regards to contacting Cheongwadae beforehand, Kim said, “Since Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee is included in the list of Sung Wan-jong, we haven’t discussed it with him.”
The note found in the pocket of Former Chairman Sung, called “Sung Wan-jong’s list,” indicates that 700 million won (US$639,971) was given to former Presidential Chief of Staff Huh Tae-yeol, 300 million won (US$274,273) to Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, 200 million won (US$182,849) to senior lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party Hong Moon-jong, 100 million won (US$91,424) to South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, and 200 million won (US$182,849) to Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo.
Also, US$100,000 and September 26, 2006 was written beside the name of another former Presidential Chief of Staff, Kim Ki-choon. The current Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee and Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo were on the list as well, but there were no amounts or dates beside their names.
All eight figures mentioned in the note denied all allegations. Saenuri Party Member Hong Moon-jong said, “If I have received even one won, I will retire from politics.” A former Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon also denied receiving any monies, saying, “It is absurd and false information without a modicum of grounds.” The current Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee said, “I think he was disappointed after he was refused a request to exclude him from the anti-corruption investigation.”