Opposition lawmaker under investigation in bribery scandal

SEOUL, March 28 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Saturday they have summoned an opposition lawmaker suspected of receiving illicit political funds from a business man who is at the center of a high-profile bribery scandal.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said that its investigators were questioning Suh
Gab-won, deputy floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
Suh allegedly took tens of thousands of dollars from Park Yeon-cha, head of
Taekwang Industry Co., a local shoe manufacturer. The owner of a Korean
restaurant in Manhattan, New York, served as a conduit for the transaction,
according to prosecutors.
Park, who is known to have previously financially supported former president Roh
Moo-hyun, is charged with giving huge kickbacks to at least several ruling and
opposition lawmakers. He has been detained since being indicted on separate
bribery and tax evasion charges in December.
Media outlets have coined the phrase the "Park Yeon-cha list" to refer to
politicians and government officials who are suspected of having received bribes
from him.
Another DP lawmaker, Lee Kwang-jae, was arrested earlier this week on suspicion
of accepting a total of 180 million won (about US$140,000) from Chairman Park
between 2004 and 2008, including $20,000 delivered by the same restaurant owner
in May 2004.
Park Jin, a ruling party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly's Foreign
Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee, is also facing investigation in the
scandal.
(END)