Governor Lim Also Implicated in Bribery Scandal

Prosecutors questioned a powerful provincial governor and close ally of President Kim Dae-jung on Thursday after his wife admitted taking bribes from a local banker.
The investigation of Lim Chang-yuel, governor of the populous Kyonggi Province surrounding Seoul, confirmed that he also received 100 million won from Seo Yi-seok, former head of the now-defunct Kyonggi Bank, during his campaign for the current post in June last year.
The ugly story came on the heels of a series of ethics scandals that have tarnished the image of President Kim's government.
Lim's wife, Chu Hae-ran, 51, admitted taking as much as 400 million won from Seo Yi-seok who was seeking her husband's influence shortly after Lim was elected governor last summer, prosecutors said.
They will apply for an arrest warrant against Chu on bribery charges, and harsh punishment including dismissal is awaiting Lim.
Seo, former head of the Kyonggi Bank, bribed the couple when the government moved to shut down his bank and eight other heavily indebted local banks, Yoo Sung-soo of the district prosecutor's office in Inchon said.
Before his election, Lim served as the finance and economy minister in charge of restructuring South Korea's ailing economy under prescriptions from the International Monetary Fund.
A well-known doctor, Chu has been dubbed by the local media as the 'Hillary of Kyonggi Province' because of her outspokenness and brisk social activities.
The banker was arrested last month on charges of taking kickbacks in return for doling out loans to businesses while he was the bank chief.
Shim Shang-bok : simsb@joongang.co.kr