President and MDP Oppose Questioning Former President DJ and Extension of Probe

As the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to oppose the independent counsel team’s move to request an extension of the duration of its activities, which followed the presidential chief of staff`s remark on his opposition to any moves to subject former President Kim Dae-jung to questioning by an independent counsel with the task of looking into the North Korea payoff scandal, the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) strongly criticized the government and the ruling camp for trying to put pressure on and obstruct the independent counsel’s activities.

The legal circle criticized former President Kim for officially expressing his regret over the independent counsel team`s investigation into the money transfer to North Korea before the history-making inter-Korean summit. Against this backdrop, the standoff between the government and the opposition party is intensifying within political circles.

Presidential Chief of Staff Moon Hee-sang voiced his opposition to the independent counsel`s move to investigate former President Kim Dae-jung in connection with the North Korea payoff scandal.

"Considering the political consensus when President Roh Moo-hyun proclaimed his acceptance of a bill calling for the appointment of an independent counsel, it is not appropriate for (the independent counsel) to question the former president," Presidential Spokesman Yoon Tae-young quoted Moon as saying in a meeting with presidential aides at Cheong Wa Dae.

Regarding presidential chief of staff Moon’s remarks, senior presidential secretary for state affairs Moon Jae-in said that “although the presidential chief of staff’s remark should be regarded as an expression of his opinion, not only participants at the meeting but also the President, I think, seems to share the same view on the issue.”

Moon Jae-in added, “To find out whether money transferred to North Korea was illegally raised or not should be subject to the independent counsel team`s investigation. But President Roh and his aides have consistently expressed their position that the money transfer to the North is a delicate political and diplomatic activity, so the money transfer part should be excluded from the independent counsel team’s probe.”

He continued however, that if the investigation led by the special counsel team discovered any new findings related to the issue, then it would be inevitable to question Mr. Kim.

The ruling camp adopted a resolution opposing the special counsel’s move to request extension of the duration of its probe. It is now planning to present President Roh a proposal calling for exercising his veto on the special counsel’s request.

The ruling camp spokesman said at its leadership meeting:“The MDP is opposing the investigation because it is likely to undermine historic implications of the inter-Korean summit and inter-Korean cooperation down the road. We are concerned that if the investigation drags on unnecessarily, our anticipation may be materialized. We hope that the investigation will end up as a productive investigation as soon as possible.”

With regard to Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling MDP`s moves, GNP spokesman Park Jong-hee said, “All truth regarding the money transfer should be unveiled by the Justice Ministry and its special counsel team. The government seems to be trying to derail the investigation because it is concerned that the investigation will uncover Cheong Wa Dae`s deep involvement in the pay-off case.”

Jeong-Hun Kim Yeon-Wook Jung jnghn@donga.com jyw11@donga.com