By Lee Tae-hoon
President Lee Myung-bak Wednesday refused to pick one of the two independent counsel nominees recommended by the main opposition party for an investigation into suspicions over the purchase of land on which his retirement residence was to be built.
Choe Guem-nak, senior presidential secretary for public affairs, said Cheong Wa Dae decided not to endorse the appointment of both Kim Hyung-tae and Lee Gwang-beom, left-leaning lawyers recommended by the Democratic United Party (DUP).
“The ruling and opposition parties need to discuss again how to recommend independent counsel,” he said, adding that the decision was made in a meeting of presidential secretaries presided by President Lee.
Choe refused to elaborate on Lee’s involvement over the decision.
He noted, however, that Lee expressed his displeasure on the DUP’s move to recommend the nominees without forging a consensus with the ruling Saenuri Party.
Choe added that Lee Dal-gon, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, expressed his intent to resign in protest of the DUP’s alleged unilateral move over the recommendation of independent investigators.
Under a motion that the Assembly passed on Sept. 3, President Lee is obliged to pick one of the DUP nominees for an investigation into suspicions surrounding his retirement home project.
Lee agreed to accept the parliamentary call to launch a probe on Sept. 24, though he discounted the move as “politically charged.”
Rep. Lee Sang-il, spokesman of the Saenuri Party, tried to lay the blame on the DUP, arguing that his party agreed to pass the motion early last month on the assumption that the DUP recommend nominees based on consensus.
“The DUP broke the promise and recommended figures who may carry out an investigation in favor of the liberal party,” he said.
However, Rep. Park Jie-won, DUP floor leader, refuted the claims, saying the ruling party had agreed to give his liberal party the right to nominate independent counsel.
He also argued that Lee does not have authority to veto.
“We urge President Lee to appoint one of the independent counsel nominees within three days as the motion stipulates,” Park said.