Political Rivalry Escalates over a Mysterious Report

The Grand National Party(GNP) yesterday stepped up its political offensive against the Millennium Democratic Party(MDP), saying, "The `report on the interview with Kim Dae-up` reported by the Kukmin Daily had been drawn out by an MDP official. It is a clear evidence that the incumbent government has been deeply involved in the draft-dodging scandal."

Kim Young-il, Director-general of the GNP said at a meeting, "The report clearly shows who manipulated the scandal and the prosecution`s investigation into the scandal is a fraud. The prosecution`s investigation has been conducted in accordance with the scenario of the report, which is estimated to have been prepared early August."

He added, "Not even a single citizen would believe the draft-dodging scandal manipulated by the incumbent government and the prosecution. But It is deplorable that the prosecution has continued political maneuvering under the name of law and justice."

He also urged that the prosecution arrest those who manipulated the scandal and bring them to justice."

Nam Gyeong-pil, GNP spokesperson said in a statement, "The MDP excuses that the report is not an official document, but it is a lie since we can see that the political maneuvering has been carried out as the report dictates." He referred as evidence that the government replaced Lee Bumgwan, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Public Prosecutors` Office(SPPO) while retained Park Young-gwan as chief of the First Special Investigations Department of SPPO, and that the prosecution searched the home of Goh Seok, a former noncommissioned officer.

He went on to say, "The connection between the MDP and some prosecutors has been revealed. It is a clear testament to the fact that the investigations has been conducted as the MDP pleases." He called for the MDP to make an official apology and to stop political maneuvering.

In response, Lee Nak-yeon, the MDP spokesman said, "According to the Kukmin Daily,

an aide to an MDP lawmaker made the report and gave the report to the lawmaker. If this is the case, they should ask the lawmaker. I have worked as the spokesman of the MDP since last November, but I have never seen or heard of the document."

He also argue, "I have inquired of the lawmaker and other MDP lawmakers, but nobody in the MDP made such a document. Currently it is difficult to identify where the document came from."

Prime Minister Kim Suk-su said at the interpellation session of the National Assembly, "As the prosecution is carrying out the investigation into the draft-dodging scandal, it will also probe the controversy over the mysterious document."

Young-Chan Yoon Yeon-Wook Jung yyc11@donga.com jyw11@donga.com