Opposition, "President Kim to be Probed", Ruling Camp "Stern Measures Against Defame Tactics"

With the Grand National Party (GNP)`s demand for investigation on President Kim himself in relation to the alleged irregularities by three sons of President Kim Dae-Jung on April 14, the political tension is gearing up. The confrontation between the opposition and ruling camps is likely to escalate, for the Millennium Democratic Party also promised firm measures against "the irresponsible attempts of the GNP to defame the presidential family."

GNP spokesperson Nam Kyung-Pil briefed at the Expanded Party Official Meeting, "The irregularities of President`s three sons and the Asia-Pacifica Peace Foundation should be swept out without exception," and, "Probe on President should be taken if it is necessary to clear the suspicions."

He added in a separate comment, "When Choi Kyu-Sun, now under the probe of the prosecution, had been investigated by Sajik-Dong team in 1998, the third son of President Kim allegedly called directly to President Kim and received indulgence for it," and claimed, `If this is true, President himself should be probed on since President is directly involved in covering graft scandals."

Active GNP president Park Kwan-Yong said, "Even though suspicions on irregularities of three sons of President getting deeper, the regime is only interested in trying to cover the true," and, "We will inform the true to people and fight along with the people as we can not tolerate any longer the corrupt regime."

GNP is going to submit an Act introducing an independent counsel to probe the alleged cases where three sons of President Kim are involved on April 16, and organize a rally to demand the sweep-out of irregularities of three sons of President Kim and the corrupt regime in Yoido Park Seoul on April 19, and is planning to expand rallies to major regional cities.

However, MDP spokesperson Lee Nak-Yon criticized GNP, "As the prosecution is investigating several suspicions related with the Presidential family with honor and fairness, the political circle should not interfere and confuse the investigation." Then he demanded, "It is absurd to think that they may do something in street even though the National Assembly is in session," and saying, "GNP should withdraw immediately the outdoor rally plans."

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · Young-Chan Yoon yyc11@donga.com