$11,000 Bounty Offered To Catch Former Presidential Secretary Woo Byung-woo

Former Senior Presidential Secretary Woo Byung-woo is now on the unofficial wanted list after getting involved in the influence-peddling scandal of President Park Geun-hye and confidant, Choi Soon-sil. Some politicians and online celebrities donated an amount of 13 million won, which is approximately $11,110, to catch Woo. The bounty money was meant to bring him out of his current hiding place.

The 10 million won was donated by former lawmaker Chung Bong-ju and Rep. Ahn Min-suk of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). They donated 5 million won each for Woo's bounty prize. Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the ruling Saenuri Party and investigative journalist Joo Jin-woo also pledged 1 and 2 million won respectively to help catch the secretary-turned-fugitive.

The former Presidential Secretary was accused of using his close relationship with Choi Soon-sil to enter Cheong Wa Dae. In return, he intentionally let Choi do her meddling in the state affairs.

Woo Byung-woo has been nowhere to be found since last month, thus, bounty had to be offered to make sure he'll be located. The former Presidential Secretary was summoned on the National Assembly's hearing on December 7 as a witness but he didn't show up. But since there are rumors that he's been hiding weeks before the assembly, there's a huge possibility that he didn't really get the subpoena.

There have been reports about spotting Woo somewhere in Haeundae, Busan but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Even if Woo's location will be traced, there's still no assurance that he'll participate in the hearing. According to the law, they cannot force him to attend the said hearings. Several lawmakers are, however, working on bills to force suspects and witnesses to attend parliamentary hearings. This is after Woo's refusal to attend the National Assembly.