Possibility for Existence of Park Soon-Suk`s Protectors

National Tax Service (NTS) reportedly conducted a secret investigation for several months on Park Soon-Suk, the chairman of Shinan Corporation, who is suspected of golf gambling.

Construction-Transportation Minister Ahn Jung-Nam said at the in-house investigation ``When serving as commissioner of the NTS, I ordered a secret investigation on Park.`` and ``it is likely that an intense probe is proceeding now.``

Minister Ahn went on to say ``I might have been left out of promotion in the past due to the investigation on Park.`` thus insinuating that Park was being patronized possibly by higher authorities than the head of the NTS. Minister Ahn said ``During my service in deputy commissioner of the NTS, Park was found guilty and was collected billions of won through tax investigation.`` and stated ``This might have possibly affected my promotion.``

Since Deputy Commissioner of the NTS is the second highest position in the NTS, it can be speculated that the commissioner of the NTS or higher authorities might attempt to hush up the case.

Such a speech of Minister Ahn`s was made in response to the opposition party`s accusation in the in-house investigation over the Department of Construction-Transportation ``Minister Ahn might have neglected his office as the commissioner of the NTS when Park was found to have lots of problems.``

Concerning what Minister Ahn had said, the NTS stated ``It is prescribed by law not to disclose publicly the process and the result of tax investigation into individual companies.`` thus keeping in secret the fact of tax investigation and its time, result, background, etc.

Cheon Kwang-Am iam@donga.com