ID :
204010
Sun, 08/28/2011 - 18:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/204010
The shortlink copeid
Seoul education chief admits giving money to dropped candidate
(ATTN: CHANGES slug; UPDATES with details of prosecution probe in 8th, comments in last two paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Seoul education chief Kwak No-hyun on Sunday admitted to giving 200 million won (US$184,800) to a college professor who dropped out of last year's election, but denied allegations the money was in return for the professor giving up his candidacy.
The liberal superintendent made the remarks after prosecutors questioned Park Myoung-gee, a professor at the Seoul National University of Education, over the weekend on suspicions of receiving money from Kwak's close aide earlier this year.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office earlier said it has requested an arrest warrant for the left-leaning professor on suspicion of receiving money in return for dropping out of the June 2010 local elections.
Kwak denied allegations that he gave the money so that he could become the only opposition bloc candidate.
"The candidate unification procedure was made by deliberation in the opposition bloc and Park's determination and there was no promise for any kind of return," Kwak said during a news conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
The 57-year-old said he decided to help Park because he was suffering from heavy debts after unsuccessfully running for office twice and even thinking about suicide.
"After taking office, I supported Park with good will because I couldn't turn my head away from his difficult situation," Kwak said. "Considering his personality and circumstances, I really felt like it could happen. The circumstances he faced seemed like an emergency situation that could not be delayed."
Prosecutors said they will summon the superintendent this week to question him about whether he gave the money in return for any favors.
Under current election law, if Kwak receives a fine of over one million won or a prison term, he can be removed from office.
The investigation into Park followed Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's resignation last week after he failed to win a city referendum on free school lunches.
Kwak, a law scholar, was elected with a pledge to provide free school meals to all elementary and middle school students.
Despite fierce opposition from Oh, who was wary of populist welfare policies and supported free lunches only for students from low-income households, the opposition-dominated city council started the free lunch program early this year, prompting the mayor to call for the referendum.
The free lunch program for all students survived the referendum as the poll was declared invalid due to insufficient voter turnout.
Opposition parties have denounced the prosecution's probe against Park, calling it retaliation against Kwak, a liberal who has often stood up against the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak.
In response to such accusations, prosecutors said they launched the probe at the request of the election watchdog, which submitted related documents earlier this month.
"Regardless of Kwak's news conference, we will continue the investigation according to the law," a senior prosecutor said, without elaborating on the ongoing probe.
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Seoul education chief Kwak No-hyun on Sunday admitted to giving 200 million won (US$184,800) to a college professor who dropped out of last year's election, but denied allegations the money was in return for the professor giving up his candidacy.
The liberal superintendent made the remarks after prosecutors questioned Park Myoung-gee, a professor at the Seoul National University of Education, over the weekend on suspicions of receiving money from Kwak's close aide earlier this year.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office earlier said it has requested an arrest warrant for the left-leaning professor on suspicion of receiving money in return for dropping out of the June 2010 local elections.
Kwak denied allegations that he gave the money so that he could become the only opposition bloc candidate.
"The candidate unification procedure was made by deliberation in the opposition bloc and Park's determination and there was no promise for any kind of return," Kwak said during a news conference at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
The 57-year-old said he decided to help Park because he was suffering from heavy debts after unsuccessfully running for office twice and even thinking about suicide.
"After taking office, I supported Park with good will because I couldn't turn my head away from his difficult situation," Kwak said. "Considering his personality and circumstances, I really felt like it could happen. The circumstances he faced seemed like an emergency situation that could not be delayed."
Prosecutors said they will summon the superintendent this week to question him about whether he gave the money in return for any favors.
Under current election law, if Kwak receives a fine of over one million won or a prison term, he can be removed from office.
The investigation into Park followed Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's resignation last week after he failed to win a city referendum on free school lunches.
Kwak, a law scholar, was elected with a pledge to provide free school meals to all elementary and middle school students.
Despite fierce opposition from Oh, who was wary of populist welfare policies and supported free lunches only for students from low-income households, the opposition-dominated city council started the free lunch program early this year, prompting the mayor to call for the referendum.
The free lunch program for all students survived the referendum as the poll was declared invalid due to insufficient voter turnout.
Opposition parties have denounced the prosecution's probe against Park, calling it retaliation against Kwak, a liberal who has often stood up against the conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak.
In response to such accusations, prosecutors said they launched the probe at the request of the election watchdog, which submitted related documents earlier this month.
"Regardless of Kwak's news conference, we will continue the investigation according to the law," a senior prosecutor said, without elaborating on the ongoing probe.
