DUP calls for a probe into NEC cyberattack

The main opposition Democratic Unity Party yesterday submitted a bill calling for a special probe into the October National Election Commission hacking attack on suspicions that ruling party lawmakers were involved.

The move came after prosecutors last week announced the results of an investigation into the hacking of the national election commission’s Web site. The probe concluded that a former chauffeur to Grand National Party lawmaker Choi Ku-sik colluded with a former secretary for the National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae to mastermind the attack.

While opposition lawmakers have raised suspicions that the cyberattack may have involved higher ranking figures in the ruling party, the prosecution said no lawmakers were behind the hacking.

Two suspects and five other IT workers have already been arrested and are now accused of attacking the Web site of then-Seoul mayoral candidate Park Won-soon, a lawyer-turned-activist who won the by-election.

To launch an independent probe, the bill needs to gain approval of the parliament. If passed, President Lee Myung-bak will have to designate a special prosecutor.

Floor leaders of the rival parties had agreed to form an independent counsel if the prosecution’s investigation failed dispel suspicions about the allegations. The GNP’s emergency council members also agreed to a special investigation.

Yonhap