By Kim Se-jeong
Staff reporter
President Lee Myung-bak called for a thorough investigation of an alleged illegal surveillance case involving an official of the Office of the Prime Minister, Sunday.
During a meeting with senior presidential secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said, "The truth behind the scandal should be unveiled quickly and thoroughly. Those found responsible for the irregularities should be punished," according to a presidential aide.
Lee's remarks, he said, mean that prosecutors should launch a probe into the case.
The prime minister's office has initiated an internal inquiry on the allegation at the instruction of Prime Minister Chung Un-chan.
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) is on the defensive about the scandal, which was brought to light by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
Together with the four-river restoration project, the scandal is expected to be an issue in campaigns for National Assembly by-elections scheduled for July 28. Up for grabs are eight seats in Seoul, Incheon and Gwangju, and Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces.
In an investigative program aired by MBC TV last week, two DP members alleged that Lee In-kyu, in charge of public ethics at the prime minister's office, had ordered surveillance on a citizen, who posted an anti-government video on websites in September 2008, when mass protests against U.S. beef imports were taking place.
The program also interviewed the alleged victim, a businessman only identified as Kim who testified that officials ran an unannounced investigation into his bank accounts, and that his regular bank dropped him as customer as a result.
Over the weekend, the DP formed a special committee led by Rep. Shin Kuhn to look into the scandal, saying that it will present the case to the Assembly for a parliamentary inquiry, a move that will further marginalize the GNP and the administration.
The ruling camp has recently suffered from successive defeats in the June local elections and the Sejong City development revision plan.