02/07(Thu) 19:29

Opposition Calls for Tax Probe on Ex NTS Head

Grand National Party Representative Hong Joon-pyo demanded a tax probe into Ahn Jung-nam, the former head of the National Tax Service, Thursday, saying there were serious questions regarding the payment of inheritance tax on land given by him to his brother. At a meeting of the National Assembly Finance and Economy attended by Son Yonug-lae, the current NTS head, Hong said the transfer of the real estate occurred immediately prior to the introduction of the Real Name Transaction Law and so raised the possibility of tax evasion.

Hong continued that the Korea Development Bank sold its Samil Building March 2001 at an unreasonably low price to Cho Pung-un, who had purchased a house for President Kim Dae-jung in Ilsan. He said the bank sold the building for W50.2 billion, but the total annual rent from it was W76.1 billion, and asked how this was possible. Hong said that after selling the building to Cho, the bank rented the first and second floor for W24.3 million per 3.3 square meters compared to W8 million in similar buildings in the area.

(Kim Chang-kyun, ck-kim@chosun.com)