Lee accused of links to scandal figure

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Lee accused of links to scandal figure

Choi Gyu-seon, who allegedly profited from his acquaintance with the president's third son, gave 250 million won ($190,000) to Representative Lee Hoi-chang of the main opposition Grand National Party, Representative Sul Hoon of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party claimed Friday.

Both Mr. Lee, the opposition's leading presidential candidate, and fellow Representative Yoon Yeo-joon, who allegedly delivered the money on behalf of Mr. Choi, denied the allegation. Both men said they would take immediate legal action against what they called an attempt to deflect attention from allegations of corruption against President Kim Dae-jung's sons.

Mr. Sul said in a press conference at party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that Mr. Choi gave the money to Mr. Yoon at his house in Itaewon in December 2001 and asked that the money be given to Mr. Lee to help pay for the former party chief's visit to the United States. "I have a tape recording of the conversation between Mr. Choi and Mr. Yoon," Mr. Sul claimed.

The ruling party legislator also alleged that Mr. Choi arranged a meeting between former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Mr. Lee, when Mr. Kissinger visited South Korea last November. Mr. Choi also met with Mr. Lee's wife several times, attempting to set up a meeting for her with former First Lady Barbara Bush. Mr. Lee's aides denied all of the allegations.

Mr. Sul's charges did not stop there. "Mr. Choi sent several e-mail messages to Mr. Lee's eldest son, and there is suspicion that he gave him 'allowance money' as well," he said.

Mr. Yoon said he met Mr. Choi six to seven times. But he said he never met him at his house and never received any money from him. An aide to Mr. Lee denied any relationship with Mr. Choi.

"Mr. Sul is fabricating these allegations in order to divert the glare from President Kim Dae-jung's three sons," Mr. Yoon said.

by Kim Chong-hyuk

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