Former vice minister faces questioning over sex scandal

By Kim Jae-won

Kim Hak-eui Former Vice Minister of Justice

Police said Wednesday they are considering summoning former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui for questioning over allegations he received sexual services arranged by Yung Jung-cheon, a construction contractor, as a form of bribes.

“We will decide on the matter after consulting with investigators,” said an official of the National Police Agency.

Observers say the police’s statement hints that investigators have confirmed allegations that Kim received sexual services from women hired by Yun at a luxury country villa in Wonju, Gangwon Province, and peddled his influence to help the contractor who allegedly committed fraud and assault repeatedly.

Kim resigned from his post in March after local media reported on the allegations, a few weeks after being appointed vice minister. The former prosecutor denied the allegations, saying he did not know Yun.

Both Yun and Kim were banned from leaving the country.

Yun appeared before police Tuesday for the third time to face questioning over the allegations that he hired women to provide sexual favors to a number of high-profile figures ― including Kim, former and incumbent police officers and the head of a hospital ― at his vacation home between 2009 and 2011.

In return, he allegedly gained benefits, including winning construction contracts and favorable treatment in several lawsuits filed against him.

The police first called him in on March 9 for intensive questioning on the illegal lobbying suspicions. He was grilled again on March 14 over suspicions related to the sexual services.

Sources said police confirmed part of the drug-use charges after investigating those involved. The police secured circumstantial evidence that Yun purchased a large amount of narcotics from a drug dealer whom he came to know through a former police investigator who worked with prosecutors, according to sources.