Party wants to question 50 on scandals

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Party wants to question 50 on scandals

The main opposition Grand National Party moved Tuesday to call 50 influential figures, including President Kim Dae-jung's three sons, as witnesses at a National Assembly committee hearing into alleged government corruption. The party also submitted a proposal to the Assembly to name an independent counsel to investigate corruption charges against the president's sons.

The party also called for the resignations of Prime Minister Lee Han-dong, Lee Keun-sik, minister of government administration and home affairs, and Yi Pal-ho, commissioner-general of the National Police Agency, because of the alleged involvement of a top police agency official in a corruption case.

The Blue House chief of staff, Park Jie-won, and Lee Ki-ho, senior adviser to the president for economy, welfare and labor, will also be called to testify before the assembly if the majority of legislators agrees to the opposition proposal. The opposition holds a near-majority in the Assembly.

In its proposal for an independent counsel, the opposition requested that the counsel be strictly limited to investigating the president's sons' involvement in a series of financial scandals. Kim Hong-il, the president's eldest son, and Kim Hong-up, his second, allegedly played separate roles in two high-profile financial corruption cases over the last two years. The third son, Kim Hong-gul, is allegedly linked to Choi Gyu-seon, who faces allegations of influence-peddling in the selection of a sports lottery operator.

Meanwhile, the opposition floor leader, Lee Jae-oh, attacked the administration for the second straight day, saying the Blue House is trying to divert attention from the allegations.

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party's spokesman, Lee Nak-yon, said, "The opposition should stop this irresponsible political offensive and quickly agree to pass economy and welfare-related bills."

by Lee Sang-il

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