The Special Prosecutor Team under Cha Jong-il released its interim report, Sunday, on Lee Su-dong, the former permanent director of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation for the Asia-Pacific Region. The report alleges that not only was Lee involved in lobbying for a variety of top administration posts, but also meddled in media reform and private businesses. The team said it had confiscated two documents on media reform, a report on measures to extend the government, letters asking for appointments in the navy and a plan to allocate concessions during the World Cup.
Prosecutors said W100 million was deposited into a "borrowed" account of Kim Seong-hwan, a close aide to Kim Hong-op, the second son of President Kim Dae-jung. They said W44 million of this was given to Lee Su-dong, while W10 million was given to a researcher at the foundation. Currently the team is seeking the source of the money and whether the account is a foundation slush fund.
The prosecution said the two media documents contained measures to reform Seoul-based major dailies and local newspapers in Gwangju and Jeonam Province. It added the 7-page documents urged reform of the media to accomplish reform and to strengthen the government rule, though Lee refused to comment on them. The fact that the documents were found at Lee's home showed the foundation played a role as a think tank for the government and was not merely an academic institute.
The measures to extend the administration's term advised reform of the political circle to provide stabilization.
The team said they uncovered seven letters and resumes asking for promotion among others to chief of naval operations (Lee Su-yong), admiral (a Lim), superintendent of the National Police and musical director at the KBS Symphony Orchestra (a Lee). Additional documents showed short lists of people from Honam to fill positions dominated by people from Yeongnam.
The report will be sent to the Prosecutor General for investigation by the state prosecution.
(Lee Myong-jin, mjlee@chosun.com)
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