Seoul Tax Service Rejected Investigation by Opposing Party

The Grand National Party`s attempt to investigate the Seoul Regional Office of the National Tax Service yesterday, in addition to its first trial to investigate the National Tax Service on July 16, failed by the rejection of the Seoul Tax Service.

10 members of the GNP`s special committee for the protection of the press freedom and the special committee for the congressional investigation on the press urged for the presence of Sohn Young-Rae, the chairperson of Seoul Tax Service, in the grand conference hall next to the chairperson`s office until late evening. However, the chairperson did not show up at the conference hall in the pretext of the inspection tour for the additional value tax report period (July 12-27).

Responding the Seoul NTS`s answer that it could contact the chairperson, the lawmakers of GNP special committees mentioned, ``[he] is defying the lawmakers who represent the people. [we] will call for the arrogant and rude behavior at the parliamentary inspection on the administration.``

Rep. Lee Jae-Oh revealed that GNP would submit a dismissal proposal of Deputy Prime Minister Jin Nyum this month for the responsibility of this incident.

The special committees will continue their scheduled investigations on the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the branch offices of each newspaper on July 24 and 26.

eodls@donga.com