GNP targets Chang family finances

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GNP targets Chang family finances

A Grand National Party legislator on Thursday accused the wife of Chang Dae-whan, the prime minister-designate, of allegedly evading medical insurance payments.

The legislator, Eom Ho-sung, said, "Since 1999 Mr. Chang's wife had an annual income of 16 million to 18 million won ($15,000) but did not pay her medical insurance fee."

According to Mr. Eom, between November 2001 and February 2002 Mr. Chang's wife, Jeong Hyeon-hee, paid an average of 147,000 won per month for coverage under the regional medical insurance. However, in the past few months she paid only 36,300 won per month, using so-called workshop medical insurance.

The Maeil Business Newspaper, which Mr. Chang headed before being named as prime minister, said that Mr. Chang's wife has been working as a part-time executive since March.

According to an official at the National Insurance Health Corporation, part-time executives are not eligible to sign up for the workshop medical insurance plan.

The prime minister's office and the Maeil Business Newspaper have insisted that every thing would be explained during the Assembly hearing on Chang's appointment.

Regarding the questions on Mr. Chang's doctoral degree, Kim Duck-bong from the prime minister's office said that Mr. Chang had properly earned his degree in 1985 from New York University , countering assertions by the Grand National Party that the doctoral degree was fabricated.

Answering another accusation about financial transactions by Mr. Chang and his wife, the Maeil Business Newspaper said Mr. Chang used the company's fixed deposit as collateral to borrow 2.4 billion won ($2 million).

The company said Mr. Chang used the loan to purchase shares in Maeil Business Television. A consulting company said that the procedure was not illegal.

The company said another loan to Mr. Chang's wife was based on the family's real estate as collateral, which was valued at 2 billion won. The loan was used to purchase shares in a Maeil subsidy.

by Song Sang-hoon

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