Sum given Kim's son called only $600,000

A former ally of President Kim Dae-jung said Wednesday said that his wife had exaggerated the amount of money delivered from the former Daewoo Chairman Kim Woo-choong to Representative Kim Hong-il, the president's first son, in 1988.

"I know that the amount delivered was about 700 to 800 million won [$540,000 to $620,000]," Representative Park Chung-hoon said. "I personally asked the chairman on two occasions to give funds to President Kim Dae-jung, who was my political hero."

At the time Kim Dae-jung was an opposition leader. Mr. Park was elected to the National Assembly in 1992 as a member of Mr. Kim's party. After being denied a nomination in 2000, he is one of two representatives of the Democratic People's Party.

Mr. Park's wife, Kim Jae-ok, said Tuesday that the president's son had picked up the money, packed in apple boxes, from her apartment. She did not estimate the amount of the money, but said there was so much that the smell of it gave her a headache.

Mr. Park said that his wife exaggerated, having never seen so much money before.

"The money was delivered on three occasions," he said. "We carried 200 million to 300 million won in a bag at a time, so the total amount would be around 700 million to 800 million won." Mr. Park added that he did not carry money errands after 1988.

Mr. Park said he was sorry for the embarrassment to Kim Hong-il and that he had quarreled with his wife over her disclosure.

by Kim Chong-hyuk