Resignation demands on rise

Members of the opposition and the ruling parties are both pressing Prosecutor General Shin Seung-nam to resign because of his brother's role in the Lee Yong-ho scandal. An independent counsel looking into the scandal said that there was an exchange of money between Mr. Shin's brother and Lee Yong-ho.

Mr. Shin continues to defend his position, but observers increasingly are predicting the worst.

The prosecutor general just managed to ride out a crisis last December when the National Assembly's impeachment motion against him failed.

Han Kwang-ok, the chairman of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, said Sunday that any actions taken again Mr. Shin must be done cautiously.

The party's presidential hopefuls, however, were more straightforward. Rhee In-je, a senior adviser for the party, said, "The prosecutor general should make his own decision about what to do if his brother is arrested for accepting bribes." Representatives Hahn Hwa-kap and Chung Dong-young echoed his comments.

Kim Joong-kwon, another adviser, said, "The prosecutor general should take responsibility for the misdeeds of his relative". Kim Keun-tae also urged Mr. Shin to take responsibility so that investigations of his brother would proceed smoothly.

It was confirmed Sunday that officials at the Blue House demanded the prosecutor general resign Saturday. The main opposition Grand National Party is urging the prosecutor general to resign.

"Prosecutors who met Mr.Shin's brother should also be investigated," said Han Chang-hui, the party's vice spokesman.

According to the United Liberal Democrats spokesman Chung Jin-suk, the party head Kim Jong-pil told him that the prosecutors office should accept the investigations of the independent counsel.

by Kim Chong-hyuk