Opposition parties: “President Should Abdicate the Throne by Himself”

As prosecutors found that President Roh Moo-hyun is linked to illicit funds, the opposition Grand National Party and Millennium Democratic Party insisted that he step down and offer a more detailed truth.

GNP spokesman Park Jin said, “The president connived with illicit funds that his party members received. It has to be judged by law. Prosecutors have to make clear how the president was involved in this absurdity.”

Rep. Hong Jun-pyo of the GNP insisted indirectly that the president should leave office, saying, “If he was involved in an illicit campaign as a candidate, he committed a crime. He should decide to abdicate the throne.”

Rep. Chough Soon-hyung of the MDP said, “We could speak nothing about the absurdity around the president as we were the ones who had helped him become president. The situation has changed, though.”

Blue House spokesperson Yoon Tae-young said after the prosecution’s announcement, “We apolotize to the people for the absurdity. The investigation will be transparent as special counsel is organized. And President Roh won’t evade his responsibility.”

However, Yoon denied most of the announcement. He said the Blue House does not know anything about tax reduction for Sun & Moon group. When a reporter asked if it meant the president was not actually involved, he answered, “No, he isn’t as far as I know.”

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com