Sung Woan

The Sung Woan-jong list is sending what appears to be a barrage of challenges against President Park Geun-hye during her third year in office ― a period she views as her last chance to achieve a legacy of fulfilled projects.

Hopes for Park's first two years were dashed amid a political paralysis brought upon the nation after the Sewol ferry tragedy and the "memogate" that resulted in a game of truth or dare involving Park's top aides and her brother.

The Sung list is expected to cause no less controversy as it includes eight central and local government officials, including two former presidential chiefs of staff as well as the incumbent, plus a senior lawmaker.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) Sunday decided to launch a special investigative team to determine the truth about the list found in the pocket of former Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong who killed himself before he could be arrested in an anti-corruption drive focused on the failed "energy diplomacy" of the previous administration.

In a statement given by her spokesman Min Kyung-wook, the President urged the prosecution to carry out the probe in a "strict manner" according to the law.

The ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung also called for a strict probe into those who allegedly took bribes from Sung between 2007 and 2012, although he first ruled out an independent council's investigation.

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Moon Jae-in demanded all six incumbent officials step down and cooperate with the prosecution in its probe.

Moon also said the prosecution will face public calls for an independent investigation if its probe is unsatisfactory.

Sung alleged in his memo that recipients included Park's aides, such as Presidential chief of staff Lee Byung-kee and his two predecessors ― Huh Tae-yeol and Kim Ki-choon.

The others are Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo and Rep. Hong Moon-jong, a three-term lawmaker of the Saenuri Party.

"Park should deal with the graft scandal more carefully because it is related to corruption which the President vowed to uproot," said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.

"On the other hand, the ‘Memogate scandal' centered on a lack of discipline among Cheong Wa Dae staff."

Shin also said that the President may find it difficult to reject demands from Moon to appoint an independent council to look into the scandal caused by Sung's memo.

Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung opposed such an appointment, Sunday, saying the prosecution's investigation should be carried out first.

In particular, legal experts say the prosecution can still open an investigation into allegations that Hong illegally raised the 2012 election campaign funds on behalf of Park.

They cited that the statute of limitations for this will be effective for the next seven years.

Sung was found dead Thursday on Mt. Bukhan after an apparent suicide amid the prosecution's probe into his role on a disputed overseas energy development project under Park's predecessor, Lee Myung-bak.

The memo found inside a pocket on Sung's pants states the amount of money next to the names of the six figures except for Lee Wan-koo and Lee Byung-kee.

In a telephone interview with The Kyunghyang Shinmun on Thursday given before his death, Sung also claimed he gave 700 million won ($639,000) to Huh and $10 million in greenbacks to Kim. Sung also said the money were believed to be used by Park's camp at the 2007 primary of the then-ruling Grand National Party.

Huh was in charge of contacting various professional groups and asking their support for Park while Kim was Park's legal advisor. Park lost the race against Lee Myung-bak.

The Kyunghyang Shinmun also reported on Saturday that Sung gave 200 million won to Hong Moon-jong in December 2012 election for Park, then the Saenuri party candidate. Hong was the party's secretary general at the time.

According to the vernacular newspaper, Sung also said, "Lee Byung-kee may have no choice but to quit his job if I opened my mouth against him."

All eight figures have denied the allegations made against them.