ULD official is held on bribery charges

Kim Yong-chae, vice president of the United Liberal Democrats, was detained Tuesday by the Incheon District Prosecutors Office on charges of accepting a bribe.

Mr. Kim is accused of receiving 200 million won ($161,500) from Choi Sang-jing, a former chairman of Seoul Metal, when he was the chief secretary to Kim Jong-pil, the president of the United Liberal Democrats, who was serving as prime minister at the time.

Mr. Kim allegedly received the bribe over three different occasions in October of 1999 in exchange for helping Mr. Choi's firm get a larger portion of its corporate bonds underwritten.

Prosecutors said they will review Kwon Seung-wook, head of the United Liberal Democrats' Dongdaemun chapter.

According to the prosecution Mr. Kwon introduced Mr. Kim To Mr. Choi. During a hearing on Mr. Kim's detention warrant he asserted that he returned the money to Mr. Choi via Mr. Kwon.

The prosecutors office said it plans to also request a detention warrant for Hur Sung-shik, an official of the Millennium Democratic Party who does not hold public office. Mr. Hur allegedly accepted 50 million won from Mr. Choi. According to prosecutors, Mr. Choi testified that he paid Mr. Kwon 50 million won as well.

by Chung-young-jin