Two senior prosecutors involved in a widening bribery scandal yesterday went through questioning as to whether they received money or other services from a businessman.

The in-house investigation committee summoned Park Ki-joon, head of the Busan District Prosecutor’s Office, and Han Seung-chul, former inspection head at the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, said officials.

Both were named in the list of prosecutors revealed by the businessman surnamed Jung, who claimed to have acted as a financial sponsor to prosecutors in Busan and the surrounding region over the past 25 years.

“The two are the very core of this extensive bribery case,” said an official of the inquiry committee.

The key point of the ongoing investigation is whether Park and Han, the two highest officials involved in the case, may be charged with bribery or dereliction of duty, said officials.

Park is suspected of taking Jung’s bribes -- cash and expensive meals -- back in 2003 while he was working as senior prosecutor. After he became prosecution head, it has also been found that he ignored Jung’s petitions, failing to report the case to the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office.

Han allegedly took similar bribes last March when he was working in the Changweon District Office, which is under the Busan prosecution’s jurisdiction. The businessman also claimed to have handed over 1 million won ($867) in cash as a “taxi fee” to Han.

Once the program was aired, Park offered his resignation, claiming innocence, but the Justice Ministry shelved it until the end of the related inquiry. Han was temporarily transferred to a research job.

While the prosecution focuses on its in-house investigation, lawmakers are pushing a bill to introduce an independent counsel in the case.

The ruling Grand National Party and opposition parties have agreed to submit the bill during the parliamentary regular session tomorrow.

Should the bill be passed by the National Assembly, an independent counsel is to be selected and allocated to the case as early as within the month.

By Bae Hyun-jung  (tellme@heraldcorp.com)