The force of the allegations had been heightened because the dead tycoon had taken the trouble to go on the radio shortly before taking his own life and naming the prime minister.
"They're talking about reform and rooting out corruption," Mr Sung said shortly before taking his own life, "but the first to be cracked down on should be someone like Lee Wan-koo".
The president of South Korea looks on from afar. Literally from afar because she was in Peru when her right-hand man announced his intention to resign.
If the suicide list does end up taking down President Park by dint of association with the names on it, then there will be more uncertainty in already uncertain and dangerous times.