Builder says it bribed Lee in 1997

Segyeong Jinheung, a contractor for a redevelopment project in Bucheon, Gyeonggi province, said yesterday it bribed Lee Hoi-chang, the Grand National Party presidential candidate, during his first bid to become president in 1997.

Kim Seon-yong, vice president of the construction company, said the firm gave 2.2 billion won ($1.8 million) to Mr. Lee over three occasions through Lee Hoe-seong, Mr. Lee's younger brother. Mr. Kim presented copies of bearer's checks and other documents that he said he handed to Mr. Lee.

"We contacted Mr. Lee and the New Korea Party because we thought that our construction projects would have difficulties if we did not improve our relations with the NKP," said Mr. Kim, referring to the predecessor to the Grand National Party. "We were going to pay the consulting fees for the NKP's 1997 presidential campaign to hire a presidential election strategist from the United States but some NKP members and Lee Hoe-seong requested the money directly from our company. So, I gave them a total of 2.2 billion won."

The Millennium Democratic Party is taking Mr. Kim's statements as an opportunity to attack the GNP. Representative Chough Soon-hyung of the MDP said, "Mr. Lee should clean up himself and his family first before he cries out that he will clean up the corruption of Korean society."

The GNP and Mr. Lee's family, however, strongly denied the allegation. Lee Hoe-seong said he has never met Mr. Kim. A GNP lawmaker called the allegation "a clear attempt at slander" orchestrated by the MDP.

The prosecution said an investigation into the charge is unlikely since the statute of limitations has expired. It also said that even if it started an investigation, it is not likely that it could finish the probe before the Dec. 19 presidential election here.

by Rah Hyun-cheol, Kim Jung-ha