[Editorial] Truth Behind Kim Yoon-kyu`s Remarks to Former Intelligence Chief

The sudden death of Chung Mong-hun, Chairman of Hyundai Asan, who contributed a great deal to joint economic projects with North Korea, is a great loss. However, his death should not be a stumbling block to the prosecution’s ongoing probe into the "cash-for-summit" scandal.

Suspicions surrounding Chung’s taking his life seem to lie in president of Hyundai Asan Kim Yoon-kyu`s remarks to former intelligence chief Lim Dong-won that the chairman took his life to prevent people being arrested. If the real facts behind the allegations that Chung handed 15 billion won to a top aide of former President Kim Dae-jung were buried, only those who carried out illegal acts in the process of a secret cash payment to the North would welcome it.

The fact remains, however, that prosecutors` investigation has only hit a snag due to the death of one of the major suspects. Contrary to what some people might think, the investigation can still move forward. Probes into bribery and slush funds depend more on financial documents and tracing back accounts than on statements by suspects. If the prosecution has a firm willingness to investigate, there will not be a lot of difficulties in fact-finding and in gaining the support of the public.

Regarding the allegations that Chung handed over 15 billion won to Park Jie-won, Chung Mong-hun and Lee Ik-chi, former president of Hyundai Securities, have already made statements and the prosecution’s probe has made some progress in tracing bank accounts. However, to disclose the whole truth, it is all the more urgent to call in Kim Young-wan, who was responsible for money laundering in the process.

The political world should not use Chung`s death to attack the opposite camp for political advantages or influence the ongoing investigation of the prosecution. Some ruling Millennium Democratic Party members willfully distorted the purpose of the probes of the independent counsel and the prosecution, saying in a statement that attempts to punish Chung`s sacrifice and efforts by legal standards resulted in his death. The independent counsel and prosecutors did not try to investigate inter-Korean economic projects and the historic 2000 inter-Korean summit meeting. They are just conducting probes into irregularities in the process of the cash transfer to Pyongyang.

The truth regarding the allegations of Chung having given 15 billion won to the former president`s aide should be disclosed and to that end, the ongoing investigation by the prosecution should continue without interference.