“Hearings on the Appointment of Prosecutor General to Be Considered“

Han Kwang-Ok, spokesperson for the New Millennium Democratic Party, said at the New Year Press Conference on the 21st, "We will make changes to introduce the hearings for the appointment of the Prosecutor General by carefully considering the Constitution."

Rep. Han said, "I am awfully sorry for burdening the nation with worries about the recent corruption cases. I know the people are worried about the Prosecution." And he added, "We will eliminate every corruption without exception and punish them. Our party will make this year go down in history as the first year free of corruptions."

He suggested to the opposition parties that "Discussions on pending problems is required before facing historic international events and elections. Let us set up a policy commission comprised of ruling and opposition members through which we could discuss the success of international events, fair elections, restoring South-North relations, strengthening our competitive edge in the international world, and civil problems."

"Our party did not hoard the kind of monopoly that past powerholders hoarded. Our party, which accomplished a political revolution, will achieve an election revolution by implementing fair and transparent elections."

A high-ranking official of the Cheong Wa Dae clearly expressed opposition to the hearings on the Prosecutor General appointment by saying, "It might disturb the President`s right to manage personnel. The Cheong Wa Dae thinks that the hearings on the appointment of Prosecutor General should be treated with care since it is not an issue of partisan interests but an issue of principle."

Young-Chan Yoon ysmo@donga.com · yyc11@donga.com