By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Presidential candidates Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye of the Grand National Party (GNP) are scheduled to attend an internal scrutiny session Thursday, the primary objective of which is to determine if they deserve to be the nation's leader.
However, skepticism toward the in-house scrutiny is running high. Critics said it would be hard for members of the screening committee to ask tricky questions, which will ultimately put the contenders in a difficult position in the presidential race.
Rep. Suh Hae-suk of the pro-government Uri Party said, ``The hearing is highly likely to end up giving political consideration in favor of the two contenders.''
Therefore, Suh said she would not hold high expectations.
The GNP responded that the public had better wait and see what happens.
``We are fully aware of the skepticism. We will strive to purge all suspicions and rumors about the party candidates through the intensive hearing,'' party spokeswoman Na Kyung-won told reporters.
Na said one of the goals of the session is to provide the contenders with an opportunity to clarify past activities.
Lee,66, and Park, 55, have prepared for the hearing with different strategies.
Park, a former GNP chairwoman, sought a proactive approach. Park's camp said they put all relevant documents about Park, such as tax records, financial reports and criminal records online at her official Web site.
Former Seoul Mayor Lee's camp said the hearing will help citizens figure out the truth but they are not going to take similar measures.
Fourteen members of the party's in-house screening committee are going to pose a large number of questions over suspicions and rumors raised about the two contenders' wealth, tax records and private lives.
The former Seoul mayor is expected to be requested to provide answers to suspicions over his past property trading, tax records and wealth accumulation.
The former party chairwoman is expected to face questions pertaining to her relationship with the late religious leader Choi Tae-min, whether she was aware of Choi's numerous corrupt dealings and if she attempted to evade taxes in the late 1990s when she worked with a non-profit scholarship foundation.
Park will be invited for the morning session which will last for three hours, and Lee will attend the afternoon session.
The committee already sent out separate questionnaires _ 150 questions for Park and 300 questions for Lee.
The two contenders have prepared answers for the questions in consultation with their camp advisors and attorneys.