GNP Pushes for Special Probe into Illegal Funds of Roh’s Camp

Rep. Choe Byung-yul, chairman of the Grand National Party, will hold a press conference at Wednesday 11 a.m. to declare the party’s official plan to push for a special interrogation into the illegal campaign funds.

“Representative Choe watched the press conference of President Roh Moo-hyun and will release our stance on current issues. He said, ‘Now is the time to prepare for a special investigation into the presidential campaign funds’,” said GNP spokesman Park Jin at a press conference yesterday.

A special investigation is highly likely to be approved when the GNP releases its official plan as the Millennium Democratic Party supports a special investigation and President Roh reveals his willingness to accept a special probe.

“As former leader Lee Hoi-chang appeared before the prosecution to take the responsibility, illicit fundraising of President Roh’s camp also should be thoroughly investigated,” then-GNP leadership during the last year’s presidential election including Rep. Suh Chung-won, the former chief campaigner, argued yesterday regarding the prosecution’s probe into the illegal funds.

“Based on media reports, the amount of illegal funds of President Roh’s camp, which has been revealed so far, amounts to 14.5 billion won,” said Rep. Lee Jae-oh during a meeting of the party`s key officeholders. “If the amount of illegal presidential campaign funds raised by Roh’s camp exceeds one-tenth of that used by the GNP, President Roh should immediately step down from the office.”

“Then-party leadership during last year’s presidential election feels a deep sense of responsibility and apologizes to the public for the current situation under which the former leader Lee should appear before the prosecution,” said Rep. Suh after the meeting on a telephone interview with this paper. “The current prosecution probe is disproportionately harsh to the defeated, and the prosecution should conduct a fair investigation into the presidential campaign funds.”

Participants of the meeting were Suh Chung-won, Park Hee-tae, the former chairman, Ha Soon-bong and Kim Jin-jae, former top party members, Lee Sang-bae, the former chief of the party’s policymaking council, Lee Kyu-taek, the former floor leader, and Shin Kyung-sik, then-chief of the presidential election planning team.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com