Confrontation Between MDP and Prosecution Intensifies

Confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is likely to further intensify. As the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) Friday decided to push for a plan demanding the prosecutor general`s testimony before the National Assembly beginning from the September parliamentary session, the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is accusing the MDP for trying to cover up its illegal fund raisings and the Good Morning City corruption scandal involving its senior officials.

The MDP`s Friday decision is likely to evolve into a standoff between the ruling camp and the prosecution because the prosecution is strongly against the ruling party`s decision, citing that the prosecutor general`s parliamentary attendance would affect its investigation into the MPD chairman`s involvement in the Good Morning City scandal as the reason.

MDP`s secretary general Lee Sang-soo said Friday in a meeting with reporters, “The MDP is now working on a bill requiring the prosecutor general to testify before the National Assembly, beginning from the September parliamentary session.”

The secretary general Lee said, “As a lawyer-turned-politician myself, my personal opinion is that the prosecution`s attitude toward chairman Chyung Dai-chul in the process of issuing summons is problematic in many aspects. Witnessing some problems, the MDP concluded that the prosecution needs the help of a third party within the government to correct those problems found in its investigative activities, such as the infringement on a suspect`s human rights and the leakage of information related to a suspect`s alleged charges to the media.”

“It is inappropriate to exempt the prosecutor general from testifying before the parliament at a time when the parliamentary law requires the heads of the National Intelligence Service, the National Police Agency, and the National Tax Service to testify at the National Assembly. It is time that the prosecution`s activities were reviewed by the parliament,” he added.

He also emphasized, “As public concerns over the prosecution`s unbridled authority are mounting, the National Assembly should assume the responsibility of easing the concern over the prosecution. With the Justice Department and the prosecution maintaining independent relations, the justice minister`s testimony before the parliament is not enough to check whether the prosecution abuses its power.”

For the main opposition GNP`s part, however, spokesman Park Jin said that the MDP`s move is inappropriate because it is trying to influence the prosecution`s investigation into its chairman`s involvement in a corruption case and its intention is politically motivated.” GNP chairman Hong Sa-duck echoed the party spokesman`s opinion by saying, “I can`t understand why the ruling party is trying to solve the issue in this way.”

Officials at the prosecution are hurdling accusations at the ruling camp by saying, “The MDP is pushing ahead with its demand for the prosecutor general`s parliamentary testimony as part of its attempts to overcome its political impasse regarding the Good Morning City case by placing pressure on the prosecution.”