Parties trade accusations during interpellation session

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, left, chats with Interior Minister Lee Sang-min during a parliamentary interpellation session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Monday. [NEWS1]

The People Power Party (PPP) and Democratic Party (DP) locked horns in a grueling parliamentary interpellation session Monday, with conservative lawmakers slamming DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung for alleged misdeeds and liberals criticizing the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's gaffes.

The National Assembly on Monday kicked off its three-day interpellation session to question government officials on politics, foreign affairs, unification and security issues.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, Foreign Minister Park Jin and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min were some of the senior government officials questioned on the first day.

Asked if prosecutors plan on arresting DP chairman Lee, Justice Minister Han said that a "fair investigation" will be conducted according to the law.

Lee faces several allegations, including involvement in land development scandals and illegal money transfers to North Korea.

"Korea is a country based on the rule of law, and the prosecution will conduct a fair investigation according to the law," said Han in response to PPP Rep. Thae Yong-ho, who said he is of the view that Lee "should not be treated as party chief and should be issued an arrest warrant."

During Monday's sessions, PPP lawmakers especially focused on the allegations against Lee.

Prosecutors are conducting separate probes into the Wirye and Daejang-dong development projects, which began in 2013 and 2015, investigating allegations of preferential investor treatment and skewed profit distribution.

Lee also faces another investigation over alleged illicit donations by six companies to Seongnam's football club during his time as the city's mayor.

Lawmakers also brought up allegations that Kim Seong-tae, former chairman of underwear maker Ssangbangwool, illegally delivered millions of dollars to North Korea for inter-Korean cooperation projects, in another case potentially linked to Lee.

Kim, who was arrested last month on charges of embezzlement, bribery and the illegal cash transfers to the North, claimed he delivered $8 million to North Korea in 2019 to help promote the Gyeonggi provincial government's smart farm project and open the door to a potential visit by then-Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung to Pyongyang.

Rep. Tae called the move a "political maneuver" by Lee to exert influence during the previous administration.

"I think the person being investigated is capable of defending himself using various rhetoric," said Justice Minister Han. "Former Chairman Kim Seong-tae is currently arrested and under investigation for various charges."

Han added that as the "prosecution is investigating the crime, it is not appropriate to talk about political implications."

Regarding an allegation that Lee wrote a personal letter to the North during his time as Gyeonggi governor in 2019, Han said sending such a letter would be "clearly illegal" as an "unauthorized contact with North Korea," though he noted that the investigation into the matter is still ongoing.

DP lawmakers also revisited allegations against first lady Kim Keon-hee, such as stock manipulation and the fabricating of academic credentials.

When questioning Foreign Minister Park and Prime Minister Han, DP lawmakers raised concerns over President Yoon Suk Yeol's "enemy" remark regarding Iran during his visit to the United Arab Emirates last week and other gaffes which they said hurt national security.

Park said on the issue of compensation for victims of forced labor during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule, a thorny diplomatic issue with Tokyo, that the "process of respecting the opinions of the victims and their bereaved families and communicating with them is important."

"I believe that the relationship between Korea and Japan should be directed toward the future rather than obsessing too much with the past, considering the current diplomatic security and economic situation," said Park.

When asked about the controversy over the military's response to the North Korean drone infiltration into the South on Dec. 26, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that the ministry is focusing on making up for its shortcomings.

DP lawmakers also grilled Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, after introducing an impeachment motion against him earlier that day for the government's alleged botched response to the Itaewon crowd crush in October last year.

Tuesday's interpellation session will address economic affairs, followed by educational, social and cultural issues on Wednesday.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]