Chyung Dai-chul`s Last Card

With the end of the month approaching, Chyung Dai-chul, chairman of the ruling Millennium Democratic party (MDP), is considering whether to appear at the prosecution`s office by the end of this month, as he said he would do.

Some within the ruling party insist that he should accept the prosecution`s summons in connection with his alleged acceptance of bribes from a land developer, conscious of the growing pressure from public opinion.

On the other hand, a group of lawmakers close to him contend that if he accepts the summons now, the so-called "Goodmorning City" scandal will be treated as an individual’s irregularities, in which case there will not be any political considerations given at all. "There is a possibility that while he stalls for time on the pretext of the MDP’s debate over the creation of a new party, Cheong Wa Dae will conclude that the scandal took place as a result of his efforts to achieve the party’s victory in last year’s presidential election," said one of Chyung`s close aides.

Amid a heavy downpour on Sunday, the MDP chairman paid his respects at his parents’ gravesite in the National Cemetery. Afterwards, meeting with reporters, he showed his disappointment with Cheong Wa Dae`s "turn-away" policy, based on its separation of party and government.

Reporters` questions and his answers are as follows.

-You said that you would appear at the prosecution by late July…

"There is no reason why I’m delaying my appearance. If the internal feud over the forming of a new party is not concluded, I will decide on whether to accept the summons, after consulting with my colleagues."

-You mentioned the closely intertwined interests of the ruling party and Cheong Wa Dae …

"What I said was not intended to instigate a confrontation between the party and Cheong Wa Dae. I meant mutual assistance. What I said also applies to the relationship between South Korea and China. Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party should complement each other. The principle behind the separation of party and government emerged from concerns over an authoritarian president’s coming to power under a dictatorship. Now is the time for there to be cooperation between party and government."

-About your remarks that there should be a personnel reshuffle at Cheong Wa Dae…

"I meant that what is not perfect at Cheong Wa Dae should be improved. I was not targeting any one specific person."

-How is the move to form a new party going?

"I understand that there have been meetings to discuss the very issue today. The issue will be finalized in wither a party executives’ meeting or in a party convention. If we go to a party convention, it should be held within two or three weeks."

Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com