Deputy mayor quits over bribery case
Published: 25 Sep. 2009, 01:29
The vice mayor for political affairs at the Seoul city government stepped down yesterday after he was implicated in a massive bribery scandal.
Lee Sang-chul, a former journalist, quit on Sept. 18, two days after he was found guilty of taking bribes from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of Taekwang Industrial, when he was president of the Monthly Chosun magazine, a position he took up in May 2008.
Lee’s resignation was accepted yesterday, according to Seoul city government.
On Sept. 16 the Seoul Central District Court handed Lee an eight-month suspended jail term on charges of receiving $20,000 from Park in 2007 in return for not printing critical articles about Park or his company.
“[The mayor] agonized over whether to accept Lee’s resignation,” said a senior Seoul city government official who asked not to be named. “The resignation was accepted because Lee wouldn’t yield.”
Seoul city government said it will not issue an immediate announcement concerning Lee’s replacement and the post will remain vacant for the time being.
Prior to leaving his post, Lee yesterday sent an e-mail to all Seoul city government officials, saying that he was innocent.
“I have done my best over the past months, hoping that truth will come out at the trial, and I was sure I would be acquitted,” Lee was quoted as saying in the e-mail. “I felt I should no longer be a burden to Mayor Oh and my Seoul city government colleagues and that’s why I made up mind to resign.”
Lee added he will do his best to unearth the truth about the allegations against him, as he believes that’s the only way he can clear his name and absolve other Seoul city government officials.
By Kim Mi-ju [[email protected]]
Lee Sang-chul, a former journalist, quit on Sept. 18, two days after he was found guilty of taking bribes from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of Taekwang Industrial, when he was president of the Monthly Chosun magazine, a position he took up in May 2008.
Lee’s resignation was accepted yesterday, according to Seoul city government.
On Sept. 16 the Seoul Central District Court handed Lee an eight-month suspended jail term on charges of receiving $20,000 from Park in 2007 in return for not printing critical articles about Park or his company.
“[The mayor] agonized over whether to accept Lee’s resignation,” said a senior Seoul city government official who asked not to be named. “The resignation was accepted because Lee wouldn’t yield.”
Seoul city government said it will not issue an immediate announcement concerning Lee’s replacement and the post will remain vacant for the time being.
Prior to leaving his post, Lee yesterday sent an e-mail to all Seoul city government officials, saying that he was innocent.
“I have done my best over the past months, hoping that truth will come out at the trial, and I was sure I would be acquitted,” Lee was quoted as saying in the e-mail. “I felt I should no longer be a burden to Mayor Oh and my Seoul city government colleagues and that’s why I made up mind to resign.”
Lee added he will do his best to unearth the truth about the allegations against him, as he believes that’s the only way he can clear his name and absolve other Seoul city government officials.
By Kim Mi-ju [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)