[Editorial] GNP Lawmakers Should Comply With Prosecution`s Summon

GNP lawmakers Park Joo-chun and Lee Jin-chul should show up at the prosecution today for questioning regarding their alleged implication in the Hyundai Group`s secret fund scandal. Meanwhile, the two lawmakers seems to have made their mind that they would not comply with the presentation`s summon flatly denying their implication. However, it is inappropriate for them to do so. Moreover, it is difficult to understand why they would not show up at the prosecution to prove their innocence if they didn`t do anything wrong as they have claimed.

In particular, a decision made by the leadership of the GNP including floor leader Hong Sa-duck on not complying with the summon seems to be inappropriate. The public may not understand the GNP`s decision, which gives impression that the party is trying to seek ways to set up firewalls from the money scandal to protect other lawmakers.

When the Hyundai secret fund scandal emerged, the GNP urged the prosecution to carry out a thorough probe to unveil all truths behind the case. Considering its previous position, the GNP should let the two lawmakers to comply with the summon as a cooperative gesture. In addition, the GNP should show a responsible behavior. When the prosecution summoned the two lawmakers, a GNP spokesman criticized the prosecution for distracting public attention from the case. However, there is nobody to take what the GNP said at face value.

The public cannot tolerate any longer to hear that lawmakers claim it is a political conspiracy when they were summoned by the prosecution for their implication in corruption scandals. Lawmakers in charged of establishing laws should respect order and laws first to guarantee national orders. They should not abuse the National Assembly law that prohibits arrests of incumbent lawmakers during plenary sessions before requesting an arrest warrant in advance, unless he is indicted without physical restraint.

The GNP leadership should listen to its junior lawmakers` advice: “The GNP should not be regarded as a sanctuary for corrupt politicians.” Their advice should be taken as the voice of the public. Only when the party is free from corruption, it can freely criticize corrupt lawmakers in the ruling party.