As expected, the storm generated by Sung Woan-jong’s claims of illegal political donations is buffeting the political community very hard. It is gathering force so fast and dynamically that no one knows how powerful it will be.

For now, the scandal is focused on allegations surrounding Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Hong Jun-pyo and a group of senior officials and politicians close to President Park Geun-hye.

This is largely because allegations made so far are based on an interview Sung gave a newspaper before he committed suicide and a memo he left behind.

But in view of the wide human networks Sung had built up while running a sizable construction group and engaging in politics himself ― he was a lawmaker and once a floor leader of a minor opposition party ― no one knows whose names will come up next.

The growing list of politicians who Sung, former chairman of Keangnam Enterprises, had contacted in the days before his death proves that he had close relationships with many of who’s who in Korean politics.

They include the prime minister, the former and current Blue House chiefs of staff, the ruling party leader and lawmakers close to President Park, including Rep. Suh Chung-won.

As things stand, more evidence and testimonies will come out day by day. There was a news report that Sung had kept note of his schedules, which showed when and where the tycoon met whom. According to the memo, he met Prime Minister Lee 23 times between August 2013 and last month.

A USB device prosecutors seized from the CFO of Keangnam is also expected to produce more clues to how Sung amassed slush funds and where he used them.

By most signs, more names ― of politicians and senior officials ― will soon emerge. Given the circumstances, the politicians may include those from opposition parties and both at the national and local levels.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Lee said that regarding the investigation into Sung, he got calls from lawmakers not only from the ruling party but also opposition parties.

In fact, some names of opposition politicians have already surfaced ― like former opposition leader Kim Han-gil who admitted meeting Sung days before his death.

Another opposition lawmaker, Rep. Park Soo-hyun from Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, Sung’s home province, said he received 5 million won in legitimate political funds from Sung in 2013.

This shows that Sung’s network was wider than expected and he scattered money indiscriminately ― some legally and others much more illegally ― to buy political influence and bolster his political clout.

In 2001, he was convicted of offering 1.6 billion won in illegal political funds to the now-defunct Liberal Democratic Party, which was based in the central Chungcheong region. He also was found guilty of providing 300 million won in illicit donations to the Roh Moo-hyun presidential campaign in 2002.

By all appearances, Sung must have kept paying politicians and government officials even after the convictions. These people who received Sung’s money ― whether to fatten their own pockets or for their bosses ― must be spending sleepless nights these days. As the probe proceeds, some will get caught and say they had bad luck, and some will breathe a sigh of relief. It is the duty of the prosecution to minimize the latter group.