“Withdraw from Political Circles If Received Money from Sun & Moon”

Rep. Suh Chung-won, former chairman of the Grand National Party, regarding the charge against him that he has received several hundred million won from the Sun & Moon Group, said on December 8, “I have not received any campaign funds from the Sun & Moon Group. If it is proven that I have received even a single won from the Group, I will resign from my post as a representative and completely withdraw from the political circles.”

Former Chairman Suh spoke in an emergency press conference that day at the party headquarters. “The prosecution should straightforwardly point out that the leading figure of the party (who received the funds) is Suh Chung-won and prove the person guilty instead of cowardly playing around with the press behind the scenes. The attitude of the prosecution to counteract the special investigation controversy is manipulative and childish,” he said, criticizing the prosecution.

He emphasized, “I’m willing to volunteer to appear at the prosecution tomorrow if necessary. If the prosecution fails to prove me guilty, the leaders of the prosecution such as the minister of Justice, the prosecutor general, and the department head of Central Investigation should be held responsible accordingly.”

Also, he publicly criticized the reaction of the party’s leaders regarding the shift of the party policies and discussion on the decentralization of the president’s power, saying, “Now that we face critical situations in which the existence of the party is endangered, we have to discuss fundamental reforms, and these minor changes will not help at all.”

Following are the excerpts of the main question and answer session at the conference:

―Do you have a personal relationship with any related official from Sun & Moon Group?

“Former vice president Kim Sung-rae is the president of the alumni club of our class at Chungang University’s Graduate School of International Studies where I am president of the entire alumni club for the school. I have met him at several gatherings such as the graduation ceremony. But we are not that close as I would not keep in contact with him personally except for formal ceremonies.”

―Have you ever received money from Hong Gi-hun, president of a pharmaceutical company?

“No.”

―What is your stance on the constitutional amendment to decentralize the president’s power?

“It is a crucial time to discuss the directions of our party. We have to approach from the bigger perspective on whether the party would last in history or if it will end somewhere in history. I’m pointing this out.”

―What do you think about the shift within the party?

“The party needs to be reborn. There are people who think that it is correct for the party to return the party headquarters or the training center to the government and use an old factory building in Yangpyong-dong to reopen the party there if needed.”

―What do you think about the “shift of 50% of Youngnam-based representatives”?

“We have no time for personal desire. If somebody is trying to personalize the party, it can lead the party to destruction.”

Min-Hyuk Park mhpark@donga.com