GNP wants special counsel

Park Hee-tae, acting chairman of the Grand National Party, said yesterday that naming an independent counsel is the only way to address the allegations that the government bribed the North, through Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., to bring the historic inter-Korean summit in June 2000.

In an address to the National Assembly, Mr. Park said President Kim Dae-jung could leave the Blue House with a clear conscience if he confessed and apologized on the issue.

The GNP's resolve to see an inquiry through was strengthened, party sources said, when President Kim said Wednesday that he would not reveal loan details. The GNP called for the president to explain why the North delayed the start of the summit one day, the June 13, 2000, why the money had been sent secretly to the North and detail the flow of funds. Mr. Park also demanded that President Kim withdraw his remark that presidential prerogative should not be subject to judicial inquiry.

President-elect Roh Moo-hyun and his aides have waffled on the issue. Mr. Roh said yesterday he hoped for the prompt and affable settlement of the charges, but urged the Blue House and the Assembly to come to terms. "The National Assembly should make a reasonable decision to settle the allegations quickly," said Mr. Roh. On Wednesday, the Blue House and Mr. Roh were at odds, when President Kim refused to address president-elect's demands to deal with the facts.

Moon Hee-sang, named Mr. Roh's chief of staff, said Blue House officials could address the charges at a closed Assembly hearing. Then President Kim could clarify his stance on the charges after the opposition and ruling parties find a political solution to the matter, Mr. Moon said, dismissing calls for naming an independent counsel. Mr. Moon's solution is similar to that proposed by the Blue House, but Lee Nak-yon, the president-elect's spokesman, denied that Mr. Roh had cut a deal with the Blue House.

Meanwhile, the Board of Audit and Inspection said yesterday that Hyundai Merchant Marine did not keep records of the $200 billion it got from Korea Development Bank that found its way to the North.

by Chun Young-gi, Seo Seung-wook