But speaker mentions responsibility, says won’t run in April election


Ruling and opposition parties on Wednesday acted in unison to pressure National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae to resign over allegations that he bribed fellow members of the governing Grand National Party to win its leadership race four years ago.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic United Party submitted a motion urging the disgraced speaker to step down from the parliamentary chief’s position, while the GNP mulled ways for their former chief to bow out as soon as possible, including agreeing to the opposition-led motion.

Their moves came hours after Park claimed no knowledge of the alleged bribery and refused to resign immediately.

“As an apology, I will not seek re-election in the upcoming general election in April,” he said early Wednesday morning at the Incheon International Airport. He was speaking to journalists upon arrival home from an 11-day official tour of Asian countries.

“I will take responsibility, if any, depending on the findings of the ongoing investigation into the case.” 

The 74-year-old parliamentarian was already widely expected to retire with the end of his sixth term even before the scandal.

Park’s resistance is a growing headache for GNP leaders in particular, who have been pushing for internal reforms to shake off the conservative group’s image of corruption.

Rep. Park Geun-hye, its chairwoman, said the party should not allow the scandal to drag on, mindful of its possible impact on voter sentiment, just three months from the crucial ballot.

“Those who are involved (in the case) should fully cooperate with the prosecutors so that they can unearth the truth as quickly as possible,” she said.
She directed floor leader Hwang Woo-yea to handle the issue, dealing with opposition parties.

A total of 88 DUP lawmakers signed in the motion calling for the speakers’ resignation, which states: “It is a disgrace to the parliament that the speaker is suspected of such wrongdoing.”

The cash-for-votes scandal broke out following a revelation by GNP Rep. Koh Seung-duk that he was offered an envelope stuffed with 3 million won by an aide to the speaker in 2008, when Park was at that time vying for the GNP leadership.

Park won the race, led the party for about a year until September 2009 and a year later became the parliamentary speaker.

Public prosecutors are currently investigating the case. They arrested An Byung-young, head of the GNP’s chapter in Seoul and member of Park’s camp during the 2008 leadership race, for alleged offering bribes party members.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)