Moon says ready to appear energy probe

Ruling party rejects call for ex-president to testify in energy investigation

By Jun Ji-hye

The rival parties clashed Monday over former President Lee Myung-bak appearing at National Assembly hearings on the failed energy diplomacy under his administration.

Rep. Moon Jae-in, chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), said he was willing to appear at the hearings and called on Lee to follow his lead.

“The ruling Saenuri Party has said that Lee will appear before the hearings if I do,” Moon told a party meeting.

The Saenuri Party rejected the offer, describing it as political maneuvering, but left room for extending the period of the parliamentary investigation.

Moon’s remarks came after the four-day hearings scheduled for March 31, April 1, 3, and 6 as part of the Assembly’s probe did not take place.

The delay has raised concerns that the probe could end without any real results. These concerns are given credence by the fact that the special investigative committee’s remit will expire today.

“Lee was a key figure in charge of pushing energy diplomacy,” Moon said. “He is obligated to answer questions from the people. He should not hide behind the ruling party.”

Along with demanding the appearance of the former President, the NPAD also asked the governing party to extend the probe. If agreed by both parties, the investigation can be extended by 25 days.

The ruling party has cited the need to question Moon over alleged stock manipulation by aides of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, also during a push for overseas resource development projects.

Moon served as chief of staff under the Roh administration.

Regarding the opposition’s request, ruling party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung told reporters, “There has been no direct evidence showing Lee was responsible for the botched projects. The NPAD’s request for having him at the hearings is just a political offensive.”

But the chairman added, “We can extend the period of the investigation. What went wrong with energy diplomacy should be known by the people.”

While in office from 2008-2013, Lee “ambitiously” sought to secure energy assets around the globe in a bid to enhance the nation’s energy self-reliance. This led state-run energy companies, including the Korea National Oil Corp., Korea Gas Corp. and the Korea Resources Corp. to waste tens of millions of dollars on overseas projects.

One of the major cases was the oil firm’s failed investment in Harvest Operations, a Canadian oil producer, and its money-losing refinery, North Atlantic Refining Limited (NARL), which resulted in losses of $1.5 billion.

Those who led the botched initiative include Lee’s older brother and former lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk.

The rivals agreed to conduct a 100-day parliamentary investigation at the end of December.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye