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| Nam Jae-joon, front, director of the National Intelligence Service, walks along an aisle at the National Assembly to attend a meeting of the parliamentary intelligence committee in Seoul, Monday. Nam denied allegations that Jang Song-thaek's aides are seeking asylum in the South after the North Korean No. 2 man was recently executed. / Yonhap |
Chances seen low for approval at Assembly
By Jun Ji-hye
An opposition alliance jointly proposed a motion Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations that the spy agency interfered in last year's presidential election.
However, the chances of the motion gaining approval by the National Assembly remain slim because the governing Saenuri Party, which holds the majority of seats, is strongly opposed to the appointment.
Rep. Jun Byung-hun, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP); Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, floor leader of the minor opposition Justice Party; and Rep. Song Ho-chang, a close confidant of independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, submitted the motion to the Assembly.
The move came after the DP, the Justice Party and Ahn, together with progressive civic groups, formed an alliance in November, calling for an investigation to get to the truth behind allegations that the National Intelligence Service (NIS), military and other government entities sought to influence voters during the Dec. 19 election last year.
The motion stated the NIS, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Security and Public Administration and the Ministry of Unification should be the subjects of a special probe because of their alleged efforts to influence the result of the election.
It also suggested that Cheong Wa Dae, the NIS, the Ministry of Justice, the prosecution and police should be investigated for their alleged attempts to downplay and obstruct the initial investigation.
The NIS and military intelligence officials are suspected of posting comments online as part of a smear campaign targeting the DP's Rep. Moon Jae-in and then independent candidate Ahn.
Former NIS director Won Sei-hoon was indicted in June for violating the Election Law, while 11 officials of the defense ministry's Cyber Command were last week referred to the military's prosecution for indictment.
The presidential office and the justice ministry have been accused of orchestrating the removal of former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook in September using personal information about his alleged lover, identified by her surname, Lim, and their alleged illegitimate son.
"Once approved, the special and independent prosecutor will have 60 days to probe the case. This period can be extended by 30 days in a first extension, then 15 days in the second," an official from the parliamentary administration office said.
The motion suggested that the rival parties jointly recommend two candidates as special prosecutor before it is voted on by the full body. The Korean Bar Association has so far recommended one candidate.
"The motion also states that the special prosecutor does not need to receive permission from the NIS head in advance to summon, question and arrest any NIS members," said the official.
Passing such a motion requires more than half the lawmakers to be in attendance, and that a majority of those present vote on the issue. The ruling party holds a majority 155 seats out of a total of 300.
