SAMSUNG IS bracing itself for an investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption that go to the heart of the Korean government.

According to pro-government United New Democratic Party candidate, Chung Dong-Young, "The Samsung scandal is an unavoidable passage of pain that our society needs to go through on its way to becoming a transparent society."

He was speaking after a group of pro-government presidential candidates agreed to push for an independent investigation into allegations made by Samsung's former chief lawyer Kim Yong-Chul.

The move piles the pressure on President Roh Moo-Hyun, as the politicians add their voices to those of the opposition Grand National Party. The opposition has been demanding an investigation of allegations that Samsung made secret payments to the President and runs a "bribery network" with prongs in the government, the judiciary and the media.

Kim Yong-Chul was head of Samsung's in-house legal team for seven years and says he routinely bribed prosecutors on behalf of the chaebol.

According to AFP, Kim says he saw a bribery list kept in a secret vault in Samsung's headquarters.

Samsung issued a 25-page statement dismissing Kim's claims. One of those accused of receiving Samsung bribes is prosecutor general Lim Chai-Jin. He responded: "I have never received money or requests for favours from Samsung. I don't understand why my name was included in the list." µ