By Kim Rahn
The Cabinet approved a measure Tuesday to appoint an independent counsel to investigate allegations that a blogger tied to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) rigged online comments for political purposes.
The approval came after the National Assembly passed a bill last week to launch a special investigation into the online opinion rigging led by the blogger nicknamed Druking, who allegedly contacted President Moon Jae-in's key aides, including DPK lawmaker Kim Kyung-soo and presidential secretary Song In-bae.
Moon presided over the Cabinet meeting and approved the measure, although he had a right to refuse it.
According to the law, the National Assembly speaker is required to ask the President to appoint an independent counsel, and within three days he has to request the opposition parties suggest candidates for the role.
The opposition parties then have five days to have four people recommended by the Korean Bar Association, select two of them and recommend the two to the president, who will have three days to pick one of them.
The probe team can have three assistant independent counsels, 13 prosecutors, 35 inspectors and 35 public servants. It can continue its probe for 60 days. The period can be extended once for 30 days.
Druking and some other members of a Moon supporters' group claimed Rep. Kim tacitly agreed to their campaign of using illegal software to manipulate online opinions. Kim flatly denied the claim, saying he was willing to face the independent counsel's investigation.
It was found later that Druking also met Song four times before the presidential election and gave him money for attending a conference organized by the blogger. Cheong Wa Dae said that through its internal inspection it concluded there was no illegality involved.