DUP floor leader Park Jie-won to be summoned

Prosecutors have summoned the Democratic United Party floor leader for interrogation on Thursday regarding his involvement in a high-profile bribery case.

According to the Central Investigation Bureau of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Rep. Park Jie-won of the main opposition party was notified on Tuesday to appear for questioning regarding a savings bank scandal involving several politicians.

However, it is reported that Park will not comply with the prosecutors’ request.

DUP spokesman Park Yong-jin said that Park will not show up for questioning as the prosecution have called on him for political reasons.

The move is doubtful concerning the fact that the summons came right after Choi See-joong mentioned illegal campaign funds for the presidential election in 2007,” said the spokesman.

It is has been reported that Park accepted some 100 million won ($87,565) from  Solomon Savings Bank chief Lim Suk and the now-defunct Bohae Savings Bank management.

According to prosecutors, Lim had testified to giving Park kickbacks before the general elections in April 2008.

Prosecutors suspect that Park received bribes from Bohae Savings Bank President Oh Moon-cheol and Bohae Brewery President Lim Kun-woo in exchange for influence over prosecution and the Financial Supervisory Service.

The scandal has implicated several lawmakers, including Rep. Chung Doo-un of the Saenuri Party and President Lee Myung-bak’s older brother Lee Sang-deuk.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)