Opposition Party Submitted Impeachment Motion against Prosecutor General

Grand National Party made motion to impeach to National Assembly against Prosecutor General Shin Seung-Nam on 5th for his biased investigation on such absurd cases as the 3 Gates of Jin Seung-Hyun, Jung Hyun-Jun, and Lee Yong-Ho, and for his refusal to attend the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee. GNP is going to submit the motion to impeach to the plenary session on 6th, and put for a vote by 8th, which New Millennium Democratic Party vowed to block even with physical power. Political strife between the ruling and opposition parties have intensified even more.

The motion to impeach against the Prosecutor General can be approved by majority (over 137), so GNP (136 lawmakers), which lacks 1 vote, needs a help of the United Liberal Democrats member. In the motion, GNP said, "impeachment against Prosecutor General Shin is inevitable because his brother was connected to `Lee Yong-Ho Gate` and he has violated political neutrality with the suspicion to minimize and hide the result of the investigation on several absurdities. He even ignored the National Assembly`s request to attend."

Kwon Chul-Hyun, the GNP spokesperson announced, "Prosecution system could not be brought back to life if the case of Prosecutor General Shin were ignored, who misused the Prosecution privately. And we will devote all our energy to pass the motion to impeach." But he added, "we will not impeach Shin Kuhn, Direct General of National Intelligence Service, to concentrate on the impeachment against Prosecutor General Shin."

NMDP floor leader Lee Sang-Soo said, "it is a political tactic for the opposition party to submit the motion to impeach. We will block it by all means." NMDP Spokesperson Lee Nak-Yon criticized, "It is neither lawful nor suitable for the public opinion to make an motion to impeach simply because he declined the request of Congress. GNP requested Prosecutor General to appear at National Assembly only for its entertainment." Kim Hak-Won, the floor leader of ULD said, "we will decide whether we will put the motion to impeach to vote on 6th."

The Prosecutor General Shin submitted a `responding letter to request to attend as a witness` to Park Heon-Ki, the chairperson of National Assembly Legislation - Judiciary Committee. Through the response, Shin explained, "it is inappropriate for the Prosecutor General to attend the National Assembly, because it may have direct and indirect political influence on the investigation or prosecution."

Shin showed his will to reveal the truth of the 3 Gates in the additional `report` which explains the position of prosecution in the suspicion of concealing and minimizing the investigations. In the `report` Shin said, "related to the Jin Seung-Hyun Gate investigation, it is reasonable to investigate the active assembly members after securing the evidences. So Jin is under a lingering pressure." And he asked to wait-and-see, saying "criminals may escape from penalties if the case under investigation is revealed."

Song In-Soo issong@donga.com