Dispute on preferential treatment towards World Cup ticket seller

Representative Choung Byoung-Gug (GNP) of the National Assembly's Culture and Tourism Committee said, "The World Cup Committee's unofficial selection of a certain company as the domestic sales agent for 2002 World Cup tickets, which are expected to produce profits of over 90 billion won, is clearly a case of preferential treatment."

Choung added, "The committee requested information Jul. 8 on individual companies in order to select the sales agent, but Park Jie-Won, who was the minister at that time, decided to voluntarily consummate an agreement with a sales agent, which was designated as the electronic systems provider, after sending a reply to a request for systems configuration cooperation."

"The selection of a certain company in one day without making a public announcement or preparing a business feasibility study is preferential treatment," Choung said. He demanded an investigation into the matter and the reselection of a sales agent.

Lee Chol-Hi klimt@donga.com