Ruling and Opposition Parties Call for Thorough Investigation Regarding the Alleged Lobbying Scandal of Jin Seong-Hyun

Both ruling and opposition parties yesterday called for thorough investigation into an alleged lobbying scandal of the former MCI Korean vice president Jin Seong-Hyun involving ruling and opposition lawmakers.

Regarding the alleged lobbying scandal during the general election last year involving Chung Sung-Hong, a former National Intelligence Service (NIS) financial official, the Millennium Democratic Party`s (MDP) lawmaker Kim Hong-Il`s staffs verified Jin`s lobby attempt by saying that "right before the general election, Chung came to the district office offering money. We turned him away telling him not even to mention such a thing. Jin Seong-Hyun seemed to have come with Chung at that time."

The Grand National Party also raised the suspicion of `actual power of the ruling party` in relation to the `Jin Seong-Hyun Gate`. Especially, regarding the MDP lawmaker Kim Bang-Lim who is allegedly involved in the `Jin Seong-Hyun Gate`, the GNP said that "Kim is only a connection link to the main power rather than an actual power. People want to know the actual power behind the three big scandals."

Meanwhile, vice chief spokesperson of the GNP Chang Kwang-Keun raised a suspicion saying that "the prosecution`s reveal of Jin Seong-Hyun`s list which includes the opposition party lawmakers seems to be an attempt to evade the current national situation, especially, a strategy to thwart the GNP`s demand for the resignation of Prosecutor General Shin Seong-Nam."

Chang said, "The prosecution should stop guerrilla tactics and should reveal everything if there is any suspicion. If the prosecution`s attempt is to weaken the opposition party, it cannot be forgiven."

Meanwhile, the MDP spokesperson Lee Nak-Yeon called for a thorough investigation saying that "although nothing has been verified regarding this issue, the prosecution should get to the bottom of allegations through a thorough investigation since allegations were reported by newspapers."

Lee criticized the GNP saying that "it is unreasonable for the GNP to critique the newspapers` reports as an attempt to `weaken the opposition party` or an attempt to `evade the current situation` since the GNP has taken offensive political measures through exaggeration whenever even a small suspicion was raised."

Young-Chan Yoon yyc11@donga.com