hankyoreh

while the placard made for the tourist into the village says “Spring comes from you.”

Former president Roh Moo-hyun apologized yesterday in a post on his Website on behalf of his wife,　who had accepted money from Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park Yeon-cha. The apology was unexpected, catching even his close confidants off-guard.

Sources said that Roh decided to admit to accepting bribery from the indicted executive after finding out that his wife Kwon Yang-suk was also involved in the investigation of Jung Sang-moon, an old close friend and aide for administrative affairs during his presidency, who was arrested yesterday on bribery charges.

“I am ashamed for causing a stir regarding this money scandal involving myself and my family,” Roh said in the post. “Charges against Jung for accepting money from Park Yeon-cha were supposed to be directed to us.”

Roh wrote on his site, “My house asked for the money and used it,” and“because there was a debt that had not yet been repaid.” A close aide to Roh said that the “house” means the former president’s wife. Based on the apology, Kwon had asked for money from Park Yeon-cha in order to pay back debts. “Roh might have made the confession out of fear that Jung could take the heat by saying that he accepted the money,” the aide added. “Roh might also have decided to apologize because his wife was involved.”

The aide went on saying, “Roh said that he will talk about details to prosecution but if a probe starts, it would not be the former president but Kwon who would be under investigation.”

“The apology reveals that it was a lie that Roh was morally clean during his presidency,” said Yoon Sang-hyun, spokesperson of the ruling Grand National Party. He called for a thorough investigation into any bribery charges related to the former president and his confidants, “Suspicions must also be clarified that today’s apology might be intended in exchange for leniency towards Jung Sang-moon and a niece’s husband of the former president.”

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