Scandal Heightens Rift

The main opposition Grand National Party continued Wednesday to push for another round of parliamentary inspection into a bribery case that implicates a venture firm's president, a government supervisor, and prominent politicians, once the current round of hearings is over.

Chung Hyun-joon, president of Korea Digital Line and a majority shareholder of Dongbang Mutual Savings and Finance, said Sunday that he bribed officials at the Financial Supervisory Service, the government's financial watchdog, through Lee Kyung-ja, Dongbang's vice president. Mrs. Lee has denied the allegations. Opposition lawmakers believe senior ruling party officials were involved in the bribery scheme.

Ruling Millennium Democratic Party lawmakers called the opposition's charge a "groundless lie". Park Byeong-seog, the ruling party spokesman, demanded the opposition stop accusing ruling party officials without specifying any names. Blue House officials had a similar reaction.

An aide to opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang said that there has been speculation in financial circles that a stockbroker, backed by a senior ruling party official, has been pouring money into competitive small and medium-size companies. He added that it is just a matter of time before his party uncovers the ruling party officials who are involved. However, the opposition has thus far refused to announce the names of the officials.

The ruling party bristled at the opposition's accusation, saying it has investigated the allegations through its own channels. The party spokesman said there was no evidence of illegality. In addition, the ruling party accused the opposition, particularly Rep. Chung Hyung-keun, of making "groundless" accusations.

"Rep. Chung forced people to lie when he was a state prosecutor," said Kim Ok-doo, the ruling party secretary-general. "Now he is making up his own lies about our party."

The prosecution continued to investigate Chung Hyun-joon. In his phone conversations with prosecutors, Mr. Chung alleged that Mrs. Lee used his name and credit to get illegal loans.

by Choi Sang-yeon