Lobbying Suspicion Unsubstantiated

A source from the Blue House (Chong Wa Dae) Monday commented that the alleged 'Paintings for Lobbying' affair has been closed because it was deemed a minor case lacking evidence. The scandal in which arrested Shindong-ah Group Chairman Choi Soon Young was rumored to have bought 5.15 million dollars worth of paintings drawn by Kim Ki Chang for the intention of lobbying political leaders may now be declared stillborn.
The source stated, 'Our secret task force members caught the matter in early June but we concluded it was highly doubtful the paintings would be used for lobbying since all the pictures were kept in Choi's company. Choi bought 200 paintings over a three-month period from last December to open a gallery, and that is what we know, nothing out of the ordinary or questionable.'
However, civilian organizations including the Citizen's Coalition of Economic Justice(CCEJ) in a public statement said, 'The government must introduce an independent council system to clear up all the suspicious cases through and through.'
It claimed in the announcement that the administration and prosecutors should publicly reveal all the details in the incident to find out the extent of Choi's illicit lobbying behavior.'
Hwashik Bong:trojans.@joongang.co.kr