President Roh Could Be Targeted by Special Counsel

On November 22, Cheong Wa Dae did not comment on the passage of a special counsel bill in the deliberation stage designed to investigate the Samsung slush fund scandal.

It is said that Cheong Wa Dae is discussing a possible presidential veto.

The Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee disregarded Cheong Wa Dae’s request to reconsider the target of the investigation and a public service regularities bill (PSRB), frustrating Cheong Wa Dae.

Cheong Wa Dae junior spokesperson Kim Jeong-seop said, “We will come up with our official position before the Judiciary Committee plenary meeting on November 23. More discussion is needed.”

Up until recently, Cheong Wa Dae was against the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Samsung scandal that was proposed by some politicians.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Cheon Ho-seon said in a regular briefing on November 16, “If the special counsel bill and PSRB are not simultaneously dealt with in the National Assembly, President Roh can veto the special counsel bill.”

Back then, Cheon emphasized, “A fundamental solution to the exhausting political fight over the special counsel bill is to enact a PSRB, which is a very important institution to fight civil servant corruption. We should not miss out on this opportunity.”

However, differences among political parties prevented a PSRB from passing the National Assembly ever since they were first submitted in November 2004. And it is highly unlikely that it will pass in the Assembly with the presidential election just 30 days away.

Political observers say that Cheong Wa Dae must have something to hide-

If special counsel get the bottom of any deal regarding funding for the 2002 presidential election and “monetary gifts” given to “celebrate” President Roh’s election as the Grand National Party insists, then the direct target of any investigation would be none other than President Roh himself.

Just as former President Kim Dae-jung was investigated by special prosecutors in early 2003 right after the end of his tenure over a massive money transfer to the North, President Roh could face the same fate over the Samsung slush fund.

The investigation target of the Samsung special counsel bill includes the alleged provision of bribes to high-ranking officials and influential figures. Unfortunately for the president, that includes the reported election fund for the Roh Moo-hyun camp and the “monetary gifts to celebrate the election.”

Investigators did not include details of the president’s election fund because of possible opposition from the United New Democratic Party regarding disclosure of details. However, the details are included in the reasons for the proposal of the bill and come at the strong request of the GNP.

Cheong Wa Dae says that “the monetary gift” accusations are smear tactics orchestrated by the GNP and will likely to rebut their validity, saying, “An investigation target that is too broad undermines judicial order.”

In the wake of the whistle blowing over the Samsung scandal by Lee Yong-cheol, the former Cheong Wa Dae secretary for legal affairs, the public is paying close attention to Cheong Wa Dae’s reactions. Under these circumstances, if the president wields his veto power against the special counsel bill, suspicions will only increase.

sys1201@donga.com