Main opposition calls for sacking of key aides

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae, left, announces in a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday, that the discussion on carrying out a special investigation into the Choi Soon-sil scandal will temporarily be suspended. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

By Kim Hyo-jin

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) announced Friday that it will temporarily suspend partisan negotiations for a special prosecutor to investigate the influence-peddling scandal revolving around President Park Geun-hye’s confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the party’s chairwoman, claimed that the ruling bloc is being idle in taking responsibility for the situation, presenting three preconditions for resuming negotiations.

“Saenuri Party must first apologize to the people. There must be the resignation of Woo Byung-woo, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. And all those who supported Choi must step down,” she said during a party meeting.

“We can only cooperate with the ruling party in normalizing state affairs after Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party prove their sincerity to do so.”

It came as the rival parties have been at loggerheads with how to proceed with the investigation by an independent counsel.

Deputy floor leaders of rival parties started discussions on Thursday about initiating an independent counsel to look into the allegations that Park’s longtime confidant Choi, who holds no official post, exercised influence on state affairs, along with other illegal acts, including raising funds for public foundations.

The Saenuri Party argued that they opted for the standing special prosecution system introduced in 2014 as a pledge by President Park Geun-hye.

It allows the National Assembly speaker to form a seven-member committee including the vice justice minister, the deputy head of the Office of Court Administration, the chairman of the Korea Bar Association and four more recommended by rival parties.

Then the committee will recommend two experienced prosecutors within five days of its formation and the President will designate one as the prosecutor in charge within three days.

Rep. Park Wan-joo, DPK’s deputy floor leader, claimed that the President’s involvement in the appointment of the prosecutor will hardly be able to clear suspicions that the public harbors toward her.

“It is suspicious if the ruling party is willing to dig up the scandal,” he told reporters.

DPK and the minor opposition People’s Party, instead, backed the option of passing a special law to launch an independent counsel.

If the law is enacted, the President will have to appoint a single candidate recommended by rival parties.

“The opposition party is just seeking to drag the scandal out for a long time to manipulate the situation with political intentions,” a Saenuri lawmaker said, adding that the parties will be unlikely to reach an agreement in a short period of time.