Ex-Police Officer Choi Sung-kyu to be Extradited Next Week

A former police superintendent Choi Sung-kyu, who was arrested by the U.S. investigators during his refuge after having been involved in the “Choi Kyu-sun scandal,” will be sent back to Seoul next week.

The U.S. Embassy announced that its internal procedure for sending back the former police officer has been completed, and that the Korean government can bring Choi back to Seoul some day next week, said the Ministry of Justice who is now discussing specific plans for Choi’s extradition.

In accordance with the schedule, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is planning to reinvestigate into Choi’s suspicion of having persuaded Choi Kyu-sun to fly to overseas, along with his own corruption charges.

The prosecutors believe that Choi might have solicited Choi Kyu-sun to escape abroad in order to veil the suspected corruption of Kim Hong-gul, former president Kim Dae-jung’s third son. After Choi Kyu-sun’s departure from the country, Choi Sung-kyu was suspected of receiving 120 million won in return for pressuring police investigators to cease their probe into illegal rebates on medical supplies. He then flew to the U.S. via Hong Kong and Indonesia in April 2002.

Choi was arrested on February 24 last year by U.S. investigators. Following the U.S. trial’s decision to sentence him to extradition, Choi petitioned for political exile and personal protection in October.

Jin-Young Hwang buddy@donga.com