Linda Kim Scandal Causes Political Turmoil

The Linda Kim lobby scandal is still causing chaos in Korean political circles. However, the ruling party and the opposition party are reacting quite differently. The ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) is being cautious and trying to avoid making matters worse, whereas the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is demanding a complete investigation.

On May 3, the GNP even suggested exercising the 'assembly's national affairs investigation rights.' GNP Secretary-General Ha Soon-bong said, "Matters related to national security have to be throughly investigated without discrimination. We will even ask for our national affairs investigation rights to be exercised if necessary."

On the contrary, the MDP has adopted a rather more prudent attitude. It was the MDP who first found out about the scandal, not long after they assumed political power. At the 1998 parliamentary inspection of the administration, ruling party assemblyman Lim Bok-jin asked about the lobby scandal related to the Paektu project. It was then that National Defense Minister Chon Yong-taek decided to initiate a thorough investigation.

Now that the lobby scandal has come to light, however, the ruling party is being very cautious. After a recent MDP meeting, spokesman Chong Dong-young said, "Nothing has been discussed regarding the scandal. The party will not make an official statement."

One MDP official explained why his party was being so careful about this issue, saying, "With the South-North summit coming up, matters regarding arms importation could provoke the North. This scandal could also negatively affect the May 9 meeting between President Kim Dae-jung and ex-President Kim Young-sam."

However, some MDP officials are demanding strict punishment. Direction Committee member Kim Keun-tae is calling for justice, saying, "This scandal has exposed corrupt relations between former ruling party officials and members of high society."

by Park Seung-hee