Park Deok-hum "Return all sponsorship funds received from the association... Stop smear politics"

Park Deok-heum, a member of the People Power Party who is suspected of receiving preferential orders worth hundreds of billions of won from an audited institution through a family business, is holding a press conference to announce his resignation from the party at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Independent lawmaker Park Deok-heum has clarified allegations that he received 10 million won from the Korea Specialty Construction Association.

On the 25th, Park issued a press release stating that the remarks made by Jin Seong-jun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s audit on the 23rd, alleging that Park received 10 million won in political funds from the Korea Specialty Construction Association, are false and groundless.

Park said, "Around December 2016, when a broadcast titled 'Investigation into Illegal Support and All-out Lobbying by Pro-Park Faction Lawmakers' aired, my secretary contacted 17 major donors by phone and returned the donations to those who admitted to making deposits under false names and to those who refused to respond. This is the accurate fact of the matter."

He added, "If illegal funds had been deposited during the investigation, the investigative agency would have summoned me or notified me of the list of donors involved in illegal activities. However, I have never received any such contact," dismissing the allegations.

Furthermore, he stated, "If the association sends me the list of people who donated with illegal funds, I am willing to return the full amount even now," and urged, "Please stop baseless political attacks aimed at tarnishing my reputation."

Earlier, Jin Seong-jun of the Democratic Party of Korea raised suspicions during the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s audit at the National Assembly on the 23rd, claiming, "Before the 2016 general election, Park received 20 million won in political funds from the association."

Jin said, "Although Park returned all the money and faced no punishment, recent statements indicate that he only returned 10 million won. Shin, the head of the Seoul branch, used four other people’s accounts to create 20 million won by depositing 5 million won each and provided it to Park at the time. We also have recordings from close aides," he revealed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.