Former PM Han arrested on suspicion of bribery

SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook suspected of
receiving a large sum of money from a corrupt business executive was arrested on
Friday, prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said.
The arrest came as Han has repeatedly refused to appear before prosecutors to
face questioning about an allegation that she received US$50,000 from Kwak
Young-wook, a former CEO of Korea Express, while serving as prime minister in
2007.
The 65-year-old Han, who served as prime minister under the Roh Moo-hyun
administration from April 2006 to March 2007, is now a senior adviser to the main
opposition Democratic Party.
Prosecutors said Han was arrested at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation building in
western Seoul, shortly after noon.
Han has defied prosecutors' summons, arguing the investigation is politically
motivated and illegal. The allegation, first reported by a local newspaper last
week, accuses Han of helping Kwak move to the top post of a state-owned
corporation in 2007 in return for the dollars. Kwak is now under arrest on
embezzlement charges.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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