Opposition Submits Special Council Act to Investigate Irregularities

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is proposing to summon 46 persons including three sons of the president, Hong-Il, Hong-Up, and Hong-Gul as witnesses in ten related standing committees in the National Assembly.

The witness summoning list of the GNP includes deputy prime minister for economic affairs Jeon Yun-Cheol, chief secretary of the president Park Ji-Won, special presidential advisor for economy, welfare, and labor Lee Ki-Ho, former prosecutor general Sin Sung-Nam, chief prosecutor of the Kwangju high prosecution office Kim Dae-Woong, CEO of Future City Environment Inc. Choi Kyu-Sun, and former executive of the Asia-Pacific Peace Foundation Lee Su-Dong.

GNP, along with the list, submitted `An Act on appointing special prosecutors to investigate irregularities involving three sons of the president Kim.`

GNP asserted that a special prosecutor should be assigned for each son`s case, and demanded Lee Yong-Ho and Jin Seung-Hyun scandals should be investigated in relation to Hong-Il; Jeong Hyun-Jun scandal and the slush fund allegation of the Asia-Pacific Foundation in addition to the above two scandals should be investigated in the case of Hong-Up; and irregularities of Choi Kyu-Sun and weapons dealer Cho Pung-Un in relation to Hong-Gul.

GNP floor leader Lee Jae-Oh said in relation to the departure of the director of special investigation division of the National Police Agency (NPA), `Overseas escape of director Choi is impossible without help of the power holders,` and demanded resignations of prime minister Lee Han-Dong, minister of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs Lee Keun-Sik, and the chief police officer of NPA Lee Pal-Ho.

However, GNP postponed Yoido Park rally originally schedule on April 19 to April 26 in observance of condolence to the victims of the Chinese passenger airplane crash.

But, MDP (Millennium Democratic Party) floor leader Chung Kyun-Hwan criticized the move of GNP, `The opposition party is adapting a partisan tactics for political gains and thus reigning in economy when the economy is poised for recovery.`

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · Yong-Gwan Jung yongari@donga.com