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(LEAD) Ex-presidential aide to be quizzed as bribery suspect next week

All News 15:30 November 17, 2017

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details and background throughout)

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors will question Jun Byung-hun, who just resigned as senior presidential secretary, on Monday as a suspect in a bribery case involving his two former aides, according to the Seoul prosecutors' office.

Jun's two former aides have been arrested for allegedly pressuring a local home shopping channel to donate 300 million (US$274,000) to the Korea e-Sports Association in 2015.

Prosecutors will question Jun, then the association's honorary chairman, to find out whether he was involved in the case.

The cable channel, Lotte Homeshopping, is suspected of giving the money seeking Jun's influence for the renewal of its broadcasting license. Jun was a member of the parliamentary committee in charge of media policies.

Jun is the first high-profile official in the Moon Jae-in government to face a corruption probe. Jun stepped down on Thursday, claiming his innocence.

Prosecutors are known to have secured statements from the home shopping channel's officials that they were considering his influence when they decided to donate.

Prosecutors also apparently have financial records of Jun's family with transactions made with vouchers issued by Lotte.

Prosecutors are said to be considering filing an arrest warrant for Jun after further investigation.

The photo filed Nov. 16, 2017, shows Jun Byung-hun, former senior presidential secretary for political affairs. (Yonhap)

The photo filed Nov. 16, 2017, shows Jun Byung-hun, former senior presidential secretary for political affairs. (Yonhap)


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