Opposition Says “Han Kwang-Ok Really Didn`t Know?“, Administration Says “Stop Raising More Suspicions“

The opposition party questioned Cheong Wa Dae high officials` involvement in the `Yoon Tae-Sik scandal`. The Democratic party opposed them by urging investigation against opposition members and said, "The opposition must stop raising more suspicions."

Opposition party secretary general Lee Sang-Duk asked, "Did Han Kwang-Ok, who was the presidential chief secretary then, really never meet and didn`t know about the fraudulent venture-businessmen?" at the party executives meeting held today.

Furthermore, he insisted that "If the President came to know about this, even at this late date, it would be appropriate for him to bring it up before the public."

The planning executive Kwon Chul Hyun stated "The President must make an official apology immediately." and urged for:

- 1 year of special prosecution of various power scandals

- Establishment of a neutral administration

- Democrats to stop preliminary hype over elections

"Will the citizens understand if Park Joon-Young met with a mere businessman several times without any compensation and purpose, while he was the President`s chief secretary?" argued deputy spokesman Chang Kwang-Kun.

Democratic spokesman Lee Nak-Yun objected, "The opposition party`s argument has no solid basis. It is unacceptable that investigation of suspicious politicians in all parties never took place." He urged that all politicians in power be investigated.

In connection with the incident, Han Kwang-Ok filed a libel suit against Lee Sang-Duk.

Secretary officials said that "Mr. Han never met ex- Congressman Kim Hyun-Kyu while he was the chief presidential secretary. Also, nothing about `Pass 21` was mentioned, and Yoon Tae Sik was not introduced to him."

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com