[Editorial] MDP`s Untimely Move

Ruling party secretary general`s remark on a bill institutionalizing the prosecutor general`s parliamentary testimony can be interpreted that the ruling Millennium Democratic Party seems to give up maintaining its dignity as a political party promoting interests of the people to protect its chairman Chung Dai-chul, who is suspected of his involvement in the Good Morning City scandal, from being prosecuted.

Although the practice of requiring the prosecutor general`s parliamentary testimony has disappeared since the former president Park Jung-hee`s authoritarian government, it is difficult to judge whether the once-existed practice is right or wrong because related laws have no clear statement on the matter. However, as the ruling party`s move came after the prosecution issued an arrest warrant against its chairman Chyung, it will be difficult to avoid mounting suspicions that the ruling camp is trying to influence the prosecution`s investigation. In the past, during the authoritarian governments when the prosecution existed only to serve the political interests of the government, an opposition party`s demand for a testimony by the prosecutor generals faced a strong opposition from the ruling party. Now, the situation is reversed, which clearly shows the MDP`s move is politically motivated.

The ruling MDP once raised an objection to the opposition GNP’s demand for former prosecutor general Shin Seung-nam`s testimony before the parliament, citing that his testimony would undermine the prosecution`s political neutrality as the reason. In this context, a parliamentary testimony by the head of the prosecution now carrying out an investigation into the MDP chairman`s involvement in the Good Morning City scandal will result in the same negative effect.

Since Korea has achieved democratization, the prosecution`s political independence is in its infant stage. At this moment, concerns are rising that whether the prosecution can maintain its political neutrality at a time when some politicians of the MDP are expressing their displeasure at the prosecution`s investigation into their chairman`s involvement in a corruption case.

It is inappropriate for presidential secretary for political affairs Yoo In-tae to have made remarks; “The prosecution seems too bold,” accusing the prosecution carrying out a fair investigation when he met with MDP chairman Chyung. Furthermore, his remarks reflect general sentiment of the ruling camp, which is posing more concerns.

It is an understandable demand that, in a democratic society, the prosecution should be subject to the parliamentary control on the principle of checks and balances. However, the MDP is not in the position of making such a demand.