Sung Wan-jong, former head of the troubled Keangnam Enterprises Ltd., made the allegation in a handwritten note he left before he hanged himself. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 29 (Korea Bizwire) –A majority of Koreans doubt that the prosecutors’ office will be able to thoroughly investigate the bribe scandal of a late businessman.
The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy surveyed 1,000 adults on April 25 and 26 on the so-called “Sung Wan-jong List” scandal.
Among the respondents, 53.5 percent said that they think the case will not be fully investigated, as the scandal is related to heavyweights from the ruling party. Only 36.6 percent replied that the prosecutors would be able to complete a thorough investigation.
Those in their 30s and 40s showed more doubt on the prosecutors’ ability than other age groups at 65 percent and 67.9 percent respectively. Respondents in their 50s and 60s believe that the prosecutors would be able to probe the case properly at 41.5 percent and 53.7 percent respectively.
Sung Wan-jong, former head of the troubled Keangnam Enterprises, made the allegation in a handwritten note he left behind on Thursday before he was found hanging from a tree on a mountain in northern Seoul.
The memo found in his trouser pocket listed eight politicians and numbers indicating the amount of money delivered to them. President Park Geun-hye‘s two former chiefs of staff — Huh Tae-yeol and Kim Ki-choon — her current chief of staff, Lee Byung-kee, and recently resigned Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo were among the politicians listed.
Meanwhile, 81.2 percent replied that a special prosecutor should be appointed to ensure an impartial and complete investigation. Of particular note, 50.9 percent asked the ruling party to give up its rights to recommend the special prosecutor.
Meanwhile, in a survey about the police response at the recent rally commemorating the first anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry, 49.6 percent of respondents said that the use of a water cannon by the police was excessive, and 51.5 percent replied that the wall of police buses was an abusive manifestation of the government’s authority.
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
