GNP Denounces President Veto, Revealing Corruption of His Former Secretary

As President Roh Moo-hyun hinted at his veto against the special investigation bill for the alleged corruption on the part of his aides on November 16, the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) started to wage an all-out war against his possible veto.

Lee Sung-hun from the GNP said on November 17 at the National Assembly’s Special Budgeting Committee, “The president’s former secretary, Choi Do-sul, received 90 billion won from S group and an unknown religious group after President Roh was elected, and the prosecution has secured related statements from Choi’s wife, Chu, in early August.”

At the assembly, Lee asked the Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil whether she knew that Chu served as a bridge transferring 90 billion won to Choi, as stated by Chu to the prosecution.

Minister Kang Kum-sil said in response, “We didn’t investigate Chu in August but instead in October after we finished tracking down the related bank accounts.”

Lee asked again, “According to Chu, Choi managed the 90 billion won through Lee Young-ro. Did you ever investigate about this?” and Minister Kang said, “Lee is sick in bed, and I cannot give away any information about the case which is currently under investigation.”

The prosecution totally denied Lee’s argument saying, “We have not caught any specific evidence that Choi received 90 billion won. We just summoned his wife to the prosecution twice to investigate on the whereabouts of the 1.1 billion won that Choi received from SK.”

But the newly formed Uri Party denounced the GNP as “launching a savage attack against the president in order to pass the special prosecution bill.”

Myoung-Gun Lee Min-Hyuk Park gun43@donga.com mhpark@donga.com