Possible Conspiracy vs. Attacked Lawmaker Probed

Seoul police yesterday expanded its investigation on the assault on ruling Grand National Party lawmaker Chun Yu-ok, saying her attacker might have planned the attack beforehand with four other civic group members at the scene.

Chun the same day proposed a partial revision to the Act on the Compensation and Honor Restoration of Democratization Movement Activists.

While working on a bill to reexamine state compensation awarded to leftist activists who took part in a major democratic protest in Busan’s Dongeui University in 1989, Chun last week was attacked by Lee Jeong-e, a leader of Minkahyup, a coalition of families advocating democracy.

Approval of the revision will extend the reexamination period to 10 years, which will allow a review of protests defined as democratic movement by the Commission for Democratization Movement Activists’ Compensation.

In addition, third parties including relatives of the victims whose rights or interests have been infringed by the commission’s decisions can also request reexamination.

After deciding to “express their objections” to Chun on the bill, Lee and the four other group members arrived in Seoul early Friday morning on a minibus. They held a news conference in front of Chun’s office in her constituency before attempting to enter her office.

In addition, they waited for Chun at a visitor’s room in the National Assembly.

Police will further investigate the case given such circumstantial indications. The Seoul Southern District Court rejected arrest warrant requests for the four other members, but plan further investigation.

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