In-house investigative committee criticized for lack of action


The Saenuri Party’s committee formed to probe the cash-for-candidacy scandal is facing criticism for a lack of action, which its opponents say shows the conservative ruling party’s unwillingness to delve into alleged irregularities in its preparations for the April general elections.

One of the nine-member committee resigned Saturday, complaining about its “lack of willingness to conduct a thorough investigation.”

“The committee met five times so far, but made no progress whatsoever, due to the lack of cooperation from the party,” Kim Ki-hong, who joined the committee on the recommendation of Yim Tae-hee, one of the party’s five presidential contenders. 

He pointed out the committee’s failure to interview any of the key figures responsible for the party’s candidate nomination process, not to mention the two members directly involved in the scandal.

Since its formation on Aug. 10, the committee, including five members recommended by contenders in the party’s ongoing presidential race, has met a total of five times, only to decide the scope of its investigation.

The committee had tried to interview former Rep. Kwon Young-se, who oversaw the party’s candidate selection as secretary-general, but to no avail.

It also failed to question the duo at the center of the scandal ― former Rep. Hyun Ki-hwan and incumbent Rep. Hyun Young-hee ― who are currently under prosecutorial investigation.

Now that the party has expelled the two, it seems all the more unlikely that the committee will question them, observers said.

The cash-for-recommendation scandal erupted in early August, dealing a blow to the Saenuri Party and Rep. Park Geun-hye who was at the helm of the party at the time of the alleged deal.

It is alleged that Rep. Hyun Young-hee gave 300 million won ($264,000) in March to former Rep. Hyun Ki-hwan, who was at that time a member of the party’s candidate selection committee, in return for a proportional representation seat. Rep. Hyun later won a parliamentary seat in the general elections.

The Busan District Prosecutors’ Office is currently looking into the suspicions, summoning Rep. Hyun for questioning for the third time on Sunday.

Both Hyuns deny the accusations. 

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