Roh’s Moral Stance Shakes Over Sun & Moon Gate

Following a series of disclosure in connecting President Roh Moo-hyun’s aides’ with receiving slush funds from Sun & Moon Group chairman Moon Byung-wook, a high-school alumnus of President Roh Moo-hyun, another allegation was raised over Roh’s inviting Moon to Chong Wa Dae for dinner.

In this regard, the Grand National Party on Saturday demanded Roh to step down, condemning the corruption of Roh’s aides. Thus, Chong Wa Dae and the opposition parties are now likely to face a deadly head-on collision.

“All the key figures of the Roh’s camp including Choi Do-sul, Lee Kwang-jae, and Yeo Taek-soo, all of whom are Roh’s close aides and Chong Wa Dae senior officials, have been caught over their irregularities. Thus, President Roh has lost his moral ground and should resign,” Rep. Lee Jae-oh, GNP secretary general said.

Claiming “Roh’s having dinner with Moon at Chong Wa Dae is one good example that suggests Roh’s involvement in the Sun & Moon Gate,” Kim Jae Do, a deputy spokesman of the MDP, demanding an explanation from Roh.

In this regard, President Roh replied on Thursday morning during a press conference at Chong Wa Dae, arguing, “I have known him for a long time because Moon is a well known and established alumnus in Seoul who contributes greatly to the alumni association. However, he did not particularly help me much.”

“However, I will not elaborate on the details further because my remarks might influence the prosecution’s investigation,” Roh said, avoiding further comments.

“Let us verify the result of the prosecutors’ investigation into the illegal campaign fund scandal through the special counsel investigation,” Roh said during the press conference.

“Banks report only suspicious large-amount cash transactions, but the government will make banks report all transactions involving a large amount of money. And all dubious transactions must be investigated,” Roh added.

Responding to GNP chief Choi Byung-yul’s demand for a neutral cabinet in order to manage the general elections next year, Roh said, “Hardly any incumbent ministers have been involved in political parties and, moreover, who can be neutral?” adding, “No such case of establishing a neutral cabinet during an election exists in any democratic society in the entire world.”

In the meantime, Moon Hyo-nam, chief investigation planner at the Supreme Public Prosecutor`s Office said, “No testimony has been secured during the question (of Moon) over Roh’s dinner invitation to Chong Wa Dae.“

“As prosecutors are investigating the case, it is difficult for Chong Wa Dae to confirm details involving the allegation,” Chong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Tai-young said.