GNP pushes probes of Kims

Representative Suh Chung-won, chairman of the opposition Grand National Party, on Thursday called for an independent counsel to look into corruption charges against the president's sons and said the president should also be investigated.

"A televised parliamentary hearing and investigation should be conducted and President Kim Dae-jung must dissolve the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation," Mr. Suh said in an address to the National Assembly. "We will come up with harsh measures if the president rejects the legitimate demands of the people."

The peace foundation has been the source of graft allegations, including one involving the president's second son, Kim Hong-up.

Mr. Suh demanded a cabinet shakeup to install politically neutral ministers. He also said Park Jie-won, Blue House chief of staff and a longtime aide to President Kim; Lim Dong-won, special presidential security adviser, and Shin Kuhn, director of the National Intelligence Service, must be ousted.

Regarding the recent naval battle with North Korea in the Yellow Sea, he insisted that government support for the Mount Geumgang tours and all other support for the North be suspended until Pyeongyang apologizes for the clash and promises not to let a similar incident occur in the future.

On Prime Minister-designate Chang Sang, Mr. Suh said, "The National Assembly will decide upon her confirmation after examining her administrative prowess and integrity." Ms. Chang has drawn criticism on several issues including her sons' U.S. citizenship, a misrepresentation of her academic background and charges that she engaged in real estate speculation.

Political pundits said Mr. Suh's attack on the Kim Dae-jung administration, particularly focusing on its alleged corruption, is clearly part of the opposition party's effort to reignite anti-DJ sentiment in the Gyeongsang provinces, the traditional support base of the GNP. The analysts said the party sees highlighting the corruption as a sure-fire way to win the presidential election in December.

Mr. Suh vowed after the speech to "play the villain" to help the GNP presidential candidate, Lee Hoi-chang, win.

by Lee Sang-il