Ex-presidential secretary probed

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into former Chung-Ang University president Park Bum-hoon over allegations that the official granted special privileges to the university while he worked as a senior secretary to former President Lee Myung-bak.

On Friday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office raided Park’s home, Chung-Ang University’s administrative and foundation offices and the Ministry of Education after reportedly receiving intelligence documents about the official’s suspected wrongdoings.

The former Chung-Ang University president, known to have been a key figure during the Lee administration, faces charges of allegedly pressuring the Education Ministry to grant administrative and financial privileges to the university while he was senior presidential secretary for education and culture from 2011-2013.

Park is also suspected of having abused his authority at Cheong Wa Dae to push conglomerates to financially support the university’s scholarship foundation.

Before holding his post, Park also worked as a member of Lee’s presidential campaign in 2007, as well as the head of the former president’s inaugural preparation committee in 2008.

The prosecution is looking to question the former presidential official as a suspect and ask the court to issue an arrest warrant to take him into custody.

The recent investigation is considered to be part of a widening probe into the former administration, including a series of inspections into overseas resource development projects carried out during Lee’s term in office.

On Friday, prosecutors raided the home of former POSCO Engineering & Construction Vice Chairman Chung Dong-hwa, suspected of having created dubious slush funds worth over 10 billion won ($9 million) at the steelmaker’s construction operation in Vietnam.

Construction firm Keangnam Enterprises and the state-run Korea National Oil Corp. are also facing similar charges of allegedly misusing state funds linked to the Lee administration’s state-financed projects.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)