Moon's confidant is trying to influence elections: LKP

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), criticized Yang Jung-chul, head of the Institute of Democracy under the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Tuesday, over his recent series of meetings with liberal politicians.

Na claimed these meetings are a potential move by Yang, a confidant of President Moon Jae-in, to influence the general election next year, and show how “arrogant” he is.

Her remarks came after the Institute of Democracy signed agreements with think tanks under the Seoul city government and the Gyeonggi provincial government which are led by potential DPK presidential candidates Park Won-soon and Lee Jae-myung, respectively, on Monday. It is a rare move for a political party to join hands with think tanks under provincial governments.

“Yang is trying to develop the DPK's policies and election strategies by taking advantage of provincial governments' think tanks which are operated using taxpayers' money,” Na said during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Tuesday.

Claiming Yang aims to come up with strategies for the DPK in the general election, Na said, “Following meetings with National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, Yang has met with the chiefs of metropolitan city governments. This appears to be his intention to secure Moon's loyalists in the country. The head of the DPK's think tank is apparently taking an 'arrogant' move to devote himself to serving Moon.”

The LKP has criticized the move claiming it is a political maneuver by Yang to follow directions from Moon to place Park Won-soon and Lee Jae-myung under the DPK's control before the general elections.

Rep. Kim Se-yeon, head of the LKP's think tank Youido Institute, criticized Yang for the agreement. "Criticism is escalating with claims that it is inappropriate before the election,” she said.

Since Yang took office last month, the LKP has stepped up offensives against him for being close to Moon. The LKP has filed a complaint against Suh with the prosecution after local media reported last month that Yang and Suh had secretly held a meeting. After the report, the opposition party raised suspicions that Suh may have violated the NIS law by possibly sharing confidential information with Yang even though he is obliged to be independent from politics. Yang and Suh argued it was a private meeting among acquaintances without a political purpose.

The LKP lawmakers also visited Cheong Wa Dae Monday urging it to start an inspection on the secret meeting between Yang and Suh.

“We ask Moon to apologize in front of people for ignoring inappropriate moves between Suh and Yang and to fire Yang,” LKP members said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the DPK's think tank rejected the LKP's claim that it has also asked other provincial governments, which are led by LKP members, to sign such an agreement while claiming that the cooperation is aimed to create synergy between political parties and local experts.