Opposition demands more figures summoned, including Park Geun-hye’s brother


As the parliament’s August provisional session draws near, parties are attacking each other over the parliamentary investigation into alleged illegal lobbying and bribery by failed savings banks.

The planned inquiry by lawmakers is seen as part of a larger battle over more controversial subjects such as the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill and the North Korean human rights bill.

The special committee on the savings banks investigation was scheduled to confirm the list of witnesses by Thursday but has not yet reached an agreement.

“Our initial goal is to come down to a compromise by Monday at the latest, as the investigation may no longer be delayed,” said Rep. Cha Myeong-jin of the ruling Grand National Party.

“At worst, we may push ahead with our current witness list in next week’s committee meeting.”

The main opposition Democratic Party, however, criticized the ruling party for rejecting the selection of several key witnesses, and so clouding the savings banks scandal.

“The people will not tolerate the ruling party skipping over this case,” said DP lawmaker Ooh Che-chang.

“The parliamentary investigation may never be strictly fair unless the witness list is clear of all doubts.”

The DP earlier requested that the investigation include Park Ji-man, the younger brother of Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the GNP and leading presidential candidate, along with various former and incumbent Cheong Wa Dae officials, accusing them of being involved in savings banks irregularities.

The party also claimed that the illicit funds delivered from savings banks were partly diverted to the preparations budget of the GNP’s national convention earlier this month.

“Some 2.4 billion won ($2.3 million) was passed on from Shin Sam-gil, honorary chairman of Samhwa Savings Bank, to a specific candidate’s camp, prior to the July 4 national convention,” said Rep. Ooh in a radio interview on Saturday.

The ruling party denied the accusations and sued Rep. Ooh for defamation, asking for financial compensation.

“I have made an agreement with my DP counterpart Rep. Kim Jin-pyo not to raise presumptuous doubts on each other, but it seems that the DP is breaking the rules,” said GNP floor leader Hwang Woo-yea in a meeting of senior lawmakers.

The GNP also argued, in response, that opposition figures were involved in the illicit real estate businesses promoted by Busan and Bohae savings banks in South Jeolla Province and Cambodia.

As the DP vowed to take legal measures unless the GNP makes an official apology, the inter-party conflict over the savings banks investigation is still deadlocked.

“The GNP’s attack on opposition lawmakers is only an excuse to prevent their core members from being selected as witnesses,” said the party’s floor spokesperson.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)