By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Governing Grand National Party (GNP) floor leader Hong Joon-pyo made clear Sunday his party would consider a National Assembly probe over the rice subsidy scandal involving three GNP lawmakers as well as 46,000 civil servants and employees working with state-run firms after the government's investigation is completed.
Meanwhile, leaders of the largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) urged the ruling party to start the assembly probe immediately.
At a high-level policy consultation meeting with the government, Rep. Hong accused DP leaders of politicizing the subsidy case in a blame game.
``The rice subsidy was adopted under the liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration, and it turned out part of the money went to unqualified persons. Therefore, the scandal is the responsibility of the previous administration,'' said Rep. Hong.
DP leaders insisted the governing party has no good reason to put off the investigation.
DP leaders increased their attack against the GNP after three governing party lawmakers were confirmed to have received the subsidy illegally. The three are Reps. Kim Sung-hoi, Kim Hack-yong and Lim Dong-kyu.
No opposition party lawmakers were found to have received the subsidy.
DP spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said the GNP was trying to mislead the public by seeking to shift the blame to the Roh administration.
``The only way for the GNP and the government to regain public confidence is by starting the probe right now and making public the list of the illegal recipients.''
The minor Democratic Labor Party also urged the GNP and the government to disclose the list.