Minor opposition lawmaker commits suicide amid illegal funding probe
- 6 years ago
'불법자금 의혹' 노회찬 아파트서 투신 사망
Some shocking news today in South Korean politics.
A prominent opposition lawmaker committed suicide Monday morning... amid allegations that he accepted illegal political funding.
In an apparent suicide note, he wrote that he did accept money... but said it had nothing to do with any illicit political favors.
For more, we connect to our political correspondent Kim Min-ji on the phone.
Min-ji, fill us in on the details.
Devin.
Roh Hoe-chan, a three-term lawmaker with the minor opposition Justice Party, jumped to his death this morning from an apartment complex in central Seoul.
His body was first found by an apartment security guard at around 9.40 am.
Police later found his jacket between the 17th and 18th floor of the apartment -- where his mother and brother were living -- and inside was his wallet, business cards and the apparent suicide note.
It's been a shock to both the ruling and opposition parties -- especially given that Roh had been known for his clean image.
Roh was an iconic figure in the labor movement and in progressive politics,... and was also popular for his pithy remarks.
However, his image was tainted... after allegations surfaced... that he received illegal political funds worth 50 million won,... or over 44-thousand U.S. dollars.
The lawmaker had denied the allegations -- saying he had not received any illegal funds... and that he would undergo questioning sincerely if he was summoned.
In the suicide note,... he said that he had accepted funds but did not give any special favors in return -- and he apologized to his family.
Police say that an autopsy will not be conducted,... in accordance with the wishes of his family,... and because his death is not regarded as suspicious.
Further details of his suicide note will also not be made public.
The Justice Party, which has been refraining from contact with the media, is holding a emergency meeting as we speak -- and any details from there, I will have in our later newscast.
Yes, do keep us updated. Now, Roh had brushed off the allegations of having traded political favors for money. Can you give us the details of the investigation that he was connected to?
Yes, going back a little bit,... an investigation has been underway into an online opinion rigging scandal -- more commonly known as the Druking Scandal.
A blogger, known as Druking, is on trial for using illegal hacking programs to manipulate online comments on political news articles... to sway public opinion and win personal favors.
As part of the probe,... investigators had been tracking down the accounts of an organization that was run by Druking and in the process found that funds had been transferred to Roh in 2016.
More precisely, the special prosecutors believe that an associate of Druking -- set up a meeting between Druking and Roh Hoe-chan and that he delivered the funds.
The case was investigated in 2016,... with no charges filed -- but the ongoing probe revealed that
Some shocking news today in South Korean politics.
A prominent opposition lawmaker committed suicide Monday morning... amid allegations that he accepted illegal political funding.
In an apparent suicide note, he wrote that he did accept money... but said it had nothing to do with any illicit political favors.
For more, we connect to our political correspondent Kim Min-ji on the phone.
Min-ji, fill us in on the details.
Devin.
Roh Hoe-chan, a three-term lawmaker with the minor opposition Justice Party, jumped to his death this morning from an apartment complex in central Seoul.
His body was first found by an apartment security guard at around 9.40 am.
Police later found his jacket between the 17th and 18th floor of the apartment -- where his mother and brother were living -- and inside was his wallet, business cards and the apparent suicide note.
It's been a shock to both the ruling and opposition parties -- especially given that Roh had been known for his clean image.
Roh was an iconic figure in the labor movement and in progressive politics,... and was also popular for his pithy remarks.
However, his image was tainted... after allegations surfaced... that he received illegal political funds worth 50 million won,... or over 44-thousand U.S. dollars.
The lawmaker had denied the allegations -- saying he had not received any illegal funds... and that he would undergo questioning sincerely if he was summoned.
In the suicide note,... he said that he had accepted funds but did not give any special favors in return -- and he apologized to his family.
Police say that an autopsy will not be conducted,... in accordance with the wishes of his family,... and because his death is not regarded as suspicious.
Further details of his suicide note will also not be made public.
The Justice Party, which has been refraining from contact with the media, is holding a emergency meeting as we speak -- and any details from there, I will have in our later newscast.
Yes, do keep us updated. Now, Roh had brushed off the allegations of having traded political favors for money. Can you give us the details of the investigation that he was connected to?
Yes, going back a little bit,... an investigation has been underway into an online opinion rigging scandal -- more commonly known as the Druking Scandal.
A blogger, known as Druking, is on trial for using illegal hacking programs to manipulate online comments on political news articles... to sway public opinion and win personal favors.
As part of the probe,... investigators had been tracking down the accounts of an organization that was run by Druking and in the process found that funds had been transferred to Roh in 2016.
More precisely, the special prosecutors believe that an associate of Druking -- set up a meeting between Druking and Roh Hoe-chan and that he delivered the funds.
The case was investigated in 2016,... with no charges filed -- but the ongoing probe revealed that