The ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Democratic Party agreed on Thursday to pass the plans for a parliamentary investigation into the National Intelligence Service’s election interference during the June session of the National Assembly.
Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan and his DP counterpart Rep. Jun Byung-hun agreed on the need to process the issue as their predecessors planned.
The development comes just two days after Saenuri chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea and DP chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil clashed over the issue at the first meeting of the two main parties’ leaders to be held in nine years.
At the time, Kim pressured Hwang to cooperate in launching the investigation, while the Saenuri Party leader said that more consideration is required.
The DP has been demanding that the parliamentary investigation should be launched, saying that the indictment of former Seoul police chief Kim Yong-pan and former National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon on June 11 effectively marked the end of the prosecutors’ investigation.
Kim Yong-pan and Won were indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act during last year’s presidential election.
Won is alleged to have ordered NIS agents to influence public opinion against Rep. Moon Jae-in of the DP, while Kim Yong-pan is suspected of downsizing the police investigation into the case.
While the parties’ floor leaders took a step closer to resolving the issue, the DP announced that it will hold rallies to add weight to its demands for a parliamentary investigation.
On Friday, DP lawmakers will stage a protest at the National Assembly, while its chairman plans to hold a press conference on June 24 to call for the ruling party’s cooperation in launching the investigation.
In addition to the developments within the political arena, the nongovernmental organization People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy filed complaints against 17 police officers including Choi Hyun-rak for aiding Kim Yong-pan in downgrading the police investigation into the case.
Complaints against the officers include abuse of power and violating the election act.
“Officers who followed the orders of Kim Yong-pan, who have been indicted by the prosecution, need to be punished by law,” a PSPD official said.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan and his DP counterpart Rep. Jun Byung-hun agreed on the need to process the issue as their predecessors planned.
The development comes just two days after Saenuri chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea and DP chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil clashed over the issue at the first meeting of the two main parties’ leaders to be held in nine years.
At the time, Kim pressured Hwang to cooperate in launching the investigation, while the Saenuri Party leader said that more consideration is required.
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| Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan (left) and his Democratic Party counterpart Rep. Jun Byung-hun shake hands during talks at the National Assembly on Thursday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald) |
The DP has been demanding that the parliamentary investigation should be launched, saying that the indictment of former Seoul police chief Kim Yong-pan and former National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon on June 11 effectively marked the end of the prosecutors’ investigation.
Kim Yong-pan and Won were indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act during last year’s presidential election.
Won is alleged to have ordered NIS agents to influence public opinion against Rep. Moon Jae-in of the DP, while Kim Yong-pan is suspected of downsizing the police investigation into the case.
While the parties’ floor leaders took a step closer to resolving the issue, the DP announced that it will hold rallies to add weight to its demands for a parliamentary investigation.
On Friday, DP lawmakers will stage a protest at the National Assembly, while its chairman plans to hold a press conference on June 24 to call for the ruling party’s cooperation in launching the investigation.
In addition to the developments within the political arena, the nongovernmental organization People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy filed complaints against 17 police officers including Choi Hyun-rak for aiding Kim Yong-pan in downgrading the police investigation into the case.
Complaints against the officers include abuse of power and violating the election act.
“Officers who followed the orders of Kim Yong-pan, who have been indicted by the prosecution, need to be punished by law,” a PSPD official said.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
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