GNP lashes back at Roh’s naming of spy head

The Grand National Party launched a strong attack against President Roh Moo-hyun’s decision to stand by his appointment for the National Intelligence Service head, despite the National Assembly’s position that the choice was inappropriate.
The party demanded Mr. Roh dismiss the newly appointed spy agency head, Ko Young-koo, and vowed to make mandatory Assembly’s judgments on all major appointees.
Park Hee-tae, the Grand National Party’s acting chairman, held a press briefing Sunday to refute Mr. Roh’s defense of his choice of Mr. Ko as the National Intelligence Service head.
“The appointment was made based on a systematic and deliberate plan to place ideologically unbalanced figures in core posts,” Mr. Park said. Mr. Ko’s previous demand for the release of an espionage convict proved controversial at the confirmation hearing.
“The president insulted the lawmakers who evaluated the capabilities of Mr. Ko at the confirmation hearing,” Mr. Park said. “Mr. Roh has completely lost his dignity as a president.”
Upon formally appointing Mr. Ko to head the spy agency Friday, Mr. Roh said some lawmakers were trying to stir up ideological debates over Mr. Ko’s appointment. Mr. Roh also called the Assembly’s judgement an act of arrogance.
The Grand National Party is seeking to revise the law governing National Assembly confirmation hearings on the so-called big four posts. Rhee Q-taek, the GNP floor leader, said Saturday that the party planned to make an amendment to require the Assembly’s approval or disapproval of the appointments of the heads of the National Intelligence Service, National Police Agency and National Tax Service, and the Prosecutor General.
The amendment would not violate the Constitution, the majority GNP said, as it would not give the Assembly power to overrule appointments.

by Ser Myo-ja