By Jun Ji-hye
Opposition parties went all out to criticize President Park Geun-hye, Wednesday, claiming that the Dec. 19 presidential election was conducted unfairly due to meddling by the nation’s spy agency and that her justice minister prevented a fair investigation into allegations pertaining to it.
The prosecution Tuesday indicted Won Sei-hoon, former chief of National Intelligence Service (NIS), without physical detention on charges of violating the Election Law. Won is accused of having directed NIS officials to engage in online activities with the aim of discrediting opposition presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.
“I am in doubt as to whether a rigged election is still valid. The NIS intervened in the election and, at the time, the National Police Agency announced false investigation results saying that it could not find any evidence to prove intervention by the NIS. All these were attempts to help Park win the presidential election,” said Rep. Choi Min-hee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), on her Twitter account.
She said that the NIS election intervention will undermine the legitimacy of the Park Geun-hye government.
DP lawmaker Shin Kyoung-min urged President Park to make an apology.
“When she was a presidential candidate last December, she insisted that an NIS agent who was accused of posting online comments to slander opposition candidates and manipulate public opinions, is innocent,” Shin said.
Opposition parties slammed Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn for blocking the prosecution from putting the former NIS chief into custody.
“It is a customary practice that the prosecution arrests those who violate the Election Law. But they decided not to file for an arrest warrant for Won. It is an absurd decision showing that the prosecution succumbed to (Justice Minister Hwang),” said Lee Un-ju, DP spokeswoman.
Lee claims Hwang commanded the investigation, which damaged neutrality and independence of the prosecution.
“If President Park is confident of her legitimacy of her administration, she should stop any intervention so that the prosecution can carry out a fair and proper investigation,” said Lee.
Pyo Chang-won, a professor who resigned from the Korea National Police University in protest over the NIS’ alleged cyber campaign last year, posted on his Twitter account, “President Park, Cheong Wa Dae and the government prevented Won from being arrested. So I deny the legitimacy of the Park administration. She is no more the president to me. The president position will remain vacant for me until an eligible president comes next time.”
The former professor said the arrest was really important part because the prosecution can interrogate Won to identify who pulled the strings.
The DP called on Hwang and Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Kwak Sang-do, who the party accused of intervening in the investigation, to immediately resign.
It also said that it will push ahead with a parliament investigation of the case during the Assembly’s session this month.