Parties Sharply Clash over Lee Yong-Ho Gate

Although the ruling and opposition parities were scheduled to open the National Assembly on Oct. 4 as the Thanksgiving holidays ended, the political stringency appears to be prolonged as they continue to clash with each other over issues surrounding `Lee Yong-Ho Gate` and the ruling and opposition leaders` talk could possibly be postponed or canceled.

In particular, the Grand National Party (GNP) is requesting to introduce `a parliamentary investigation first, then special prosecution system later` and the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) is agreeing with GNP, whereas the ruling New Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) is opposing to it, arguing ``the request of a parliamentary investigation from the opposition parities is merely for a bargain after the agreement to introduce the special prosecution system.`` Thus the ruling and opposition parities seem to resume a power competition starting from this issue.

The ruling and opposition parties appear to sharply clash with each other in the National Assembly since President Kim Dae-Jung`s speech on 2001 budget before the parliament was scheduled for Oct. 5, the representative speeches of negotiation bodies (Oct. 8–9), and the parliamentary interpellation session of the government (Oct. 10– 6).

GNP spokesman Kwon Chul-Hyun declared in his commentary on Oct. 3 ``the truth behind such issues as pressure on the press or `Lee Yong-Ho Gate` will be raked out in detail through the interpellation session of the government and parliamentary investigation.``

Kwon argued ``We have the first and the second list of the names of politicians related to `Lee Yong-Ho Gate`, among which appears a name of an assistant of a surprising figure.`` and ``the suspicion of lobbying politicians and government officials should be probed exhaustively by tracing thoroughly the flow of money except 10 billion won out of 42 billion won whose usage was not identified.``

He went to on to say ``If the investigation is completed by just singling out Rep. Park Byung-Yoon, who is just the tip of the iceberg and with a simple conclusion that Yeo Woon-Hwan embezzled the lobbying funds, the government will be pressured by the public to turn over its power.``

But MDP spokesman JeonYong-Hak said ``If the opposition party continues to inflate the groundless suspicion in order to manipulate the public, we will trace its source and take legal action.``

MDP seeks to make a counterattack on the opposition party along with this, alleging △ according to some reports there is a group of former agents of the National Security Agency called `Kuk Sa Mo` behind `Lee Yong-Ho Gate`, △ Park Soon Suk, Park Soon-Suk, the chairman of Shinan Corporation, on whom GNP is raising suspicions, is found to have had been linked to the New Korea Party, the predecessor or GNP.

Meanwhile, Spokesman Jeon insisted ``MDP will disclose exhaustively in responding to Chuseok sentiment of people the truth of matters under the public suspicions in a posture of carving out decaying flesh, and call to account those who are responsible.``

Kim Chang-Hyuk chang@donga.com