People’s Party lawmaker-elect summoned over alleged bribery

Prosecutors called in an opposition lawmaker-elect for questioning on Monday on suspicion that he received illegal political funds ahead of last month’s parliamentary election.

Park Joon-young of the People’s Party, who served as governor of South Jeolla Province, denied the charges before entering the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office in southwestern Seoul.

“I did not receive the money. There must be a misunderstanding,” the 69-year-old told reporters at the scene. “It is a shame that the situation turned out this way. I apologize to my supporters.”

Park said, adding that he would cooperate with the investigation.

Park is suspected of accepting hundreds of thousands of won in illicit campaign funds on multiple occasions from a secretary-general of a small political party, identified only by his surname Kim. Park had formerly headed the party composed of followers of the late president Kim Dae-jung before joining the People’s Party in March.

Prosecutors suspect Kim of offering the funds to Park in exchange for favors in the nomination process for the People’s Party. Kim, however, was not included on the list of the party’s proportional representation candidates.

Prosecutors arrested Kim and Park’s accounting manager and searched Park’s residence and office in South Jeolla Province last month.

Prosecutors said they would decide whether to indict the lawmaker-elect before the 20th National Assembly opens later this month.

Later in the day, Ahn Cheol-soo, cochairman of the People’s Party said that he would respond to Park’s case in accordance with the party’s principles and rules.

The party’s rules stipulate that it can suspend the membership of individuals linked to bribery and corruption if they are indicted.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)