Choi Ku-sik leaves GNP on cyberattack

Representative Choi Ku-sik of the Grand National Party yesterday gave up his party affiliation in response to the fallout from the cyberattack that paralyzed the National Election Commission on the day of the Oct. 26 Seoul mayoral by-election.

“Choi telephoned me this morning and said he would leave the party today,” Representative Hwang Young-cheul, GNP spokesman, said yesterday. Choi also issued a statement to announce his decision.

“I feel sorry for having troubled the public with my aide’s misdeed,” Choi wrote, stressing that he had nothing to do with the scandal. “No matter what the prosecution’s probe reveals, I feel responsible for having failed to manage my staffers properly.”

Choi was questioned by the prosecution last week about his involvement in the crime committed by his chauffeur, a 27-year-old man only identified as Gong. During the initial probe by the police, Gong admitted that he had committed the cyberattack to obstruct voters from locating their polling stations on the election-day morning.

By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]