GNP submits no-confidence motion against justice minister

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) issued a no-confidence motion against Justice Minister Kim Jung-Kil after Kim filed suit against the GNP over the from the then Agency for National Security Planning (NSP) funding scandal. Kim demanded the return of 94 billion won to the national treasury in connection with allegations that the former ruling party misappropriated funds from the NSP, the state intelligence agency, for use in two parliamentary election campaigns.

GNP spokesman Kwon Chul-Hyeon said the party filed the motion against the justice minister as a proxy of the government, arguing that Kim¡¯s suit was a plot to suppress the opposition party.

The GNP spokesman also said the GNP would form an ad hoc committee composed of judicial experts in the party to take further legal steps, such as filing a libel suit and a demand for compensation. The GNP plans to submit another impeachment motion to the National Assembly against Prosecutor General Park Soon-Yong.

GNP secretary general Kim Ki-Bae said that if the ruling camp files suit for a writ of attachment, all of 133 party members would resign their parliamentary seats and launch a campaign to topple the government.

Song In-Soo issong@donga.com