NCJ Number
63771
Journal
CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY WEEKLY REPORT Volume: 35 Issue: 49 Dated: (DECEMBER 3, 1977) Pages: 2514-2518
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE KOREAN ATTEMPT TO BUY INFLUENCE IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
A SUMMARY OF ILLICIT KOREAN LOBBYING EFFORTS BEING INVESTIGATED BY A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE REVEALS A PLAN PUT TOGETHER BY THE KOREAN CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. THE PLAN WAS TO SWAY AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION AND OFFICIAL POLICY, TARGETING REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH PARTIES, THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED SERVICES, THE WAYS AND MEANS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEES, AND KEY STAFF AIDS. THE PLAN CALLED FOR 'HIRING' COLLABORATORS TO INFILTRATE VARIOUS OFFICES, PROVIDE CAMPAIGN FUNDS, AND PROVIDE FUNDS FOR VISITS BY KEY PERSONNEL TO SOUTH KOREA. KOREAN BUSINESSMAN TONGSUN PARK WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED AS AN AGENT FOR ALL KOREAN PURCHASES OF U.S. RICE AS SOME OF THE MONEY WAS USED TO BRIBE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION OF THE KOREAN LOBBYING SCHEME BEGAN WITH THE VOTE TO LET THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS OF INFLUENCE BUYING REVEALED BY NEWSPAPERS AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. THE HOUSE PROBE WAS TO DETERMINE WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THEIR FAMILIES, OR THEIR ASSOCIATES ACCEPTED ANYTHING OF VALUE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA. THE INTERNAL POLITICS OF THE HOUSE PROBE, THE QUESTIONING OF PARK, AND CHANGES IN COUNSEL FOR THE COMMITTEE AND RELATED INVESTIGATIONS ALL PRODUCED COMPLICATIONS AND DIFFICULTIES. PUBLIC HEARINGS DID NOT REVEAL THE NAMES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED, ALTHOUGH INDICTMENTS WERE LATER BROUGHT ON BUSINESSMEN PARK AND KIM, AND CONGRESSMAN HANNA. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT BY THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO CONGRESSMEN AND 155 FORMER AND CURRENT SENATORS ASKING ABOUT THEIR VISITS TO KOREA, ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS VALUED AT MORE THAN $35 FROM THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT OR FROM 13 NAMED KOREAN INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES, AND ATTENDANCE AT FUNCTIONS GIVEN BY THOSE PERSONS. THE CONTENTS OF THE RESPONSES WERE NOT REVEALED. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)