GNP Names 3 Figures in Scandal

The opposition Grand National Party on Friday named governing officials it says are involved in the financial scandal surrounding Lee Yong-ho, chairman of the G&G Group, at the National Assembly interpellation session.

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party said it would seek advice from a court on just how far parliamentary immunity should extend. Those named included President Kim Dae-jung's eldest son, Representative Kim Hong-il.

"It is rumored that the initials 'K.K.J' refer to three people: Representative Kim Hong-il; senior Millennium Democratic Party member, Kwon Roh-kap, and Jung Hak-mo, head of LG Sports. Did the prosecution conduct an internal investigation into these rumors?" opposition lawmakers You Sung-keun and Ahn Kyung-yul both asked prosecution officials in their interpellation. The initials reportedly appeared in a document in which Lee Yong-ho named some government officials who had invested with him.

The mention of the names by the opposition immediately triggered a heated debate over parliamentary immunity.

Jeon Yong-hak, the ruling party spokesman, said, "Parliamentary immunity means immunity against civil and criminal accountability for remarks made on the job, but it does not extend to libel or invasion of personal privacy."

Chang Kwang-keun, vice spokesman for the opposition, criticized the ruling party, saying they were "attempting to tinker with the inherent rights of legislators as they are cornered by allegations of involvement in corruption scandals."

Meanwhile, Prosecutor-General Shin Seung-nam also made waves when he stressed the need to hold lawmakers more accountable for their actions and statements.

The nation's top prosecutor, during a visit to the Changwon District Prosecutors Office, said, "Parliamentary immunity is being used for irrelevant purposes. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review on the privileges of parliamentarians."

Meanwhile, Mr. Kim said, "I cannot suppress my anger over the opposition trying to hide under the cloak of immunity." The president's son said that he will sue the two lawmakers for libel.

Mr. Kim said he was introduced to Mr. Yeo at a dinner on Jeju Island, butsaid "We did not talk much nor did he come to see me afterwards." Mr. Kim said he did not know Mr. Lee, the central figure in the scandal. Mr. Yeo worked as a lobbyist for Mr. Lee.

Mr. Kim said Mr. Jung, who heads professional sports operations for the LG - such as the LG Twins baseball franchise, the LG Sakers Basketball Club and the LG Cheetahs, the group's soccer club - is an acquaintance from college, but ruled out any connection between either of them and the financial scandal.

by Lee Yang-soo