By Kim Hyun-bin
An independent counsel started an investigation into an online opinion rigging scandal involving a power blogger nicknamed “Druking,” Wednesday, after 20 days of preparation.
“The members of the independent counsel team have been chosen,” said counsel Huh Ik-bum.
The investigation could last up to 90 days.
Huh was appointed earlier this month by President Moon Jae-in to investigate the opinion rigging scandal involving his close associates.
The investigation will question Druking and his supporters about allegations that they manipulated online comments to sway public opinion in favor of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea during last year's presidential election.
Druking had connections to officials from the ruling party and the presidential office including former lawmaker Kim Kyoung-soo, who was elected governor of South Gyeongsang Province in local elections earlier this month.
Kim has denied all allegations, calling the scandal a "fiction."
The key points of the scandal are whether the blogger and his accomplices used illegal software before the presidential election in May last year, under the direction of the aides. An automated program enabled users to input multiple “likes” for specific comments about news articles. Druking allegedly set up a team in January 2017 to increase the number of clicks on news articles in favor of then-presidential candidate Moon during the presidential race.
Druking admitted to using a computer program to create automated repetitive sequences.
Prosecutors arrested and charged Druking for manipulating internet comments via the software.
The Cabinet approved a 3.14 billion won ($2.82 million) budget Tuesday for the counsel's operations, taken from the government's reserve funds.
In a separate investigation, police have been investigating the main opposition party who allegedly rigged online opinion in past elections including the 2007 presidential race.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been questioning party officials after the ruling Democratic Party filed a complaint earlier this month.
The Liberty Korea Party (LPK) is also accused of using a software program to increase “likes” on comments made in favorable news articles from 2006 to 2014.
Police are looking to get statements from officials that worked in the election camps involved in the rigging activities.