Kim Young-sam Accused Of Misusing State Funds

A senior ruling-party official charged Thursday that former President Kim Young-sam gave checks issued by the central bank, and made out to the central intelligence agency, to nine government ministers.

"During the Kim Young-sam administration, the checks, issued by the Bank of Korea, were given to ministers and vice ministers," Rep. Lee Hae-chan of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party said to reporters.

The central bank only issues checks to be used to administer the national budget.

"Thus, the funds in question are indeed the checks allotted to the National Security Planning Agency in 1996," Mr. Lee said. The National Security Planning Agency is the predecessor of the National Intelligence Service.

The governing party is making an effort to demonstrate that the 119.2 billion won ($93 million) allegedly transferred by the intelligence agency to the New Korea Party in 1996 amounts to an illegal embezzlement of government funds by the then-ruling party.

The legislator was providing support to his party's chairman, Kim Joong-kwon.

The party chairman said at a news conference Thursday, that the prosecution investigation is about the "embezzlement of part of the government budget," and that the funds should be returned to government coffers.

by Lee Jung-min