All-out War with Political Disclosures

The Grand National Party (GNP) demanded President Kim Dae-Jung to take a hands-off approach on the domestic affairs on April 22 in response to the irregularities scandals of power elites including three sons of the president, and promised to launch an ousting campaign against the regime if the demand is not met.

But the political confrontation is leading to a direct collision course since the Blue House and the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) called the demand an irresponsible political offense and a disregard on the constitution.

Especially, the GNP warned that the political atmosphere would not improve at all if MDP Rep. Sul Hoon does not present the evidence on alleged money dealing between CEO of Future City Environment Choi Kyu-Sun and GNP Rep. Yoon Yeo-Joon, and declared the period leading to May 2 as the outer-parliamentary struggle period of national scale.

Demand for the president to withdraw to the second line of state affairs: GNP Active president Park Kwan-Yong said in a press conference, `The current regime and its cabinet have lost the minimum respect, authority, and people`s credit to lead the nation,` and added, `President Kim should step back from the state affair as he is responsible for this situation, and a neutral cabinet should assume the responsibility for state affairs.`

GNP active president Park also urged resignation of the minister of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) Lee Keun-Sik and dimissals of the presidential chief secretary Park Jie-Won and the chief of the National Policy Agency (NPA) Lee Pal-Ho, saying, `The overseas flee of former NPA director Choi Seong-Kyu who holds the key to the irregular activities of three sons of the president is a government-wide neglect of duties with the Blue House at its center.`

Active president Park declared, `If our demand is not met, we will start the impeachment motion against the president or launch the regime ousting campaign.`

GNP held a representatives meeting in the National Assembly and decided to organize a large scale demonstration in Yoido Plaza, Seoul on April 26, and to take the demonstrations to the streets in occasions of regional primaries including Daegu-North Kyoungsang Province on April 24 and Pusan-South Kyoungsang Province on April 28.

Response of the Blue House and MDP: Presidential press secretary Park Sun-Suk said, `The argument of GNP is against the constitution and related legal clauses,` and, `We feel sorry and think it is not helping national interest at all to shake off the presidency with such an political offense when we are facing shortly the opening of the World Cup soccer finals.`

MDP spokesperson Lee Nak-Yon remarked, `Since the alleged illegal activities of three sons of the president are investigated by the prosecution in just way, even the opposition party should watch the outcome of the investigation,` and criticized, `GNP is launching a political offense disregarding the constitution.`

Rep. Sul said, `I am now persuading the witness who hesitates to reveal the recorded tape of the conversation between Choi Kyu-Sun and Rep. Yoon Yeo-Joon during their money dealings.`

In other hand, president of the United Liberal Democrats Kim Jong-Pil said in a talk with reporters, `We would not go so far,` referring to the demand of GNP for the president to step down to the second line.

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com