Sex Probe Into Ex-Pres. Officials Widens

Seoul police yesterday said they are investigating if a former presidential official "Kim" paid for sex, and will expand their probe to the lobbying activities of cable system operator Tbroad.

The Mapo Police Station said, “The 1.8 million won (1,302 U.S. dollars) spent at a room salon (hostess bar) in the Shinchon district is not a small amount. We’ll investigate to see if another former staff of the presidential office `Jang` and former senior official of the Korea Communications Commission `Shin` also purchased sex.”

Before the announcement, police had been passive, saying, “Since we have no evidence on others but Kim, we won`t investigate others involved.”

Police will strive to find out what the expenses were for at the bar. They searched the bar and seized credit card bills and lists of customers. The bar owner also said, “Tbroad’s team head paid the 1.8 million won.”

In response, the cable system operator said, “We paid the 1.8 million won but 850,000 won (615 dollars) was for drinking with government officials that day and the remaining 950,000 won (687 dollars) was for what we owed before that day.”

Suspicion remains, however, that 950,000 won was paid for sexual services. The bar usually charges 300,000 won (217 dollars) for sex per person. If the three former government officials were provided with sex, their expenses of around 900,000 won (651 dollars) could have been covered by Tbroad.

A police officer said, “We’ll investigate if sex was included in the 1.8 million won bill by analyzing the bar`s ledgers.” Police seized security camera footage from the motel where Kim was caught and are seeing if the other two were also recorded.

Kim will be summoned today for questioning and police will continue to investigate the two others and Tbroad staff.

zozo@donga.com