Kim Dae-jung Contrite as His 2d Son Goes to Jail

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 24, 2002

Kim Dae-jung Contrite as His 2d Son Goes to Jail

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The South Korean Supreme Public Prosecutors Office on June 21 detained Kim Hong-up, 52, the second son of President Kim Dae-jung, on charges of bribery and interference in an official inquiry. It charged that Mr. Kim had received 2.3 billion won ($1.9 million) from companies seeking official assistance.

At 7:20 p.m., when the warrant was issued, Mr. Kim said briefly in response to a question that he felt sorry. Then he got into a car and rode to Seoul Penitentiary in Uiwang, Gyeonggi province.

The detention was scheduled for 8 p.m., but prosecutors executed it earlier in consideration of Kim Dae-jung's scheduled apology at 8 p.m.

"It is all my fault," Kim Dae-jung said in a televised apology as another of his sons was incarcerated. "My sons will be punished by the law." His youngest son, Kim Hong-gul, was detained last month on similar charges.

"I have pondered on my behavior and taken in public opinion," Kim Dae-jung said. "I will devote myself to national affairs, and leave the matter of my sons to the hands of the judiciary."

Kim Hong-up did not contest the detention request. His lawyer, Yoo Jae-in said, "He seemed to know about his detention and wanted to avoid the complicated process. He was objective to my suggestion that I could dispute 90 percent of the indictment."

The prosecution said Mr. Kim had received 260 million won from three companies, including 140 million won from Sungwon Construction to win creditor approval of a debt-relief plan. It added that it had received a statement that Mr. Kim and an aide had received 500 million won for influencing the non-detention indictment of Lee Jae-kwan, the vice president of Saehan group.

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