By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Former President Roh Moo-hyun faces investigation over allegations he copied a large volume of classified online documents ahead of his retirement in February and currently has them in his possession at his home in Bongha, South Gyeongsang Province.
Media reports accused Roh of setting up an online paper company to steal the information, which includes classified data on inter-Korean economic exchanges and trade deals with the United States, citing sources at Cheong Wa Dae.
On Thursday, the governing Grand National Party (GNP) called for the prosecution to investigate the case.
``If the reports are true, this is a matter of grave concern that could disrupt the foundation of the country,'' GNP Secretary General Kwon Young-se said in a radio program.
``We call for a thorough investigation by the prosecution. We will take legal action if Roh and his aides did steal the classified online documents.''
Kwon said even a head of state, incumbent or retired, is not allowed to copy state documents or use them for private purposes although he has the right to check them.
The National Archives of Korea said it will send a team of staff, led by director general Chung Jin-chul, to Bongha, Saturday.
``The visit is to confirm whether Roh has any classified information at his home. We will retrieve it if he has,'' Chung said.
Roh's aides acknowledged they copied some documents for Roh, but claimed the case is being exaggerated by Cheong Wa Dae and some conservative newspapers.
``Cheong Wa Dae is behind the accusations against Roh,'' Yonhap News quoted Kim Kyung-soo, one of Roh's secretaries, as saying. ``It should stop attacking Roh and spreading groundless accusations.''
Following a month-long inspection of access records into its internal online network, the presidential office said in June that it found Roh copied 2.14 million documents without due authorization in the final months of his presidency.
Roh's opponents have raised allegations that Roh is providing the information to opposition lawmakers to attack the government and the ruling party and is using it to set up an Internet site on political debates, they said.