Lawmakers demand independent counsel investigate election cyber attack


The main opposition Democratic Party agreed to end their boycott of the National Assembly over the U.S. free trade deal ratification, on the condition that the ruling Grand National Party accepts its claims over key pending issues.

The DP demanded that an independent counsel system be introduced to clarify the allegations that the GNP was involved in the cyber attack against the National Election Commission webpage during the Oct. 26 Seoul mayoral by-election.

It also asked for a drastic increase in the college tuition cut funds in next year’s education budget bill.

“Our lawmakers generally agreed to continue their anti-FTA campaigns,” said Rep. Kim Yoo-jung, the party’s floor spokeswoman, after the party’s hours-long general meeting on Tuesday morning.

“While performing our parliamentary duties, we will do our best as to have all of our requirements satisfied.”

After the ruling party passed the disputed Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill earlier this month, the DP boycotted parliamentary sessions, including the budget bill screening.

The liberal party also reaffirmed its confidence in its floor leader Rep. Kim Jin-pyo, the spokeswoman said.

Kim was thus entrusted with all authority over the DP’s parliamentary return to the December provisional session and is to discuss the details with the GNP, according to officials.

Rep. Kim earlier agreed with his GNP counterpart Rep. Hwang Woo-yea to prioritize the parliamentary sessions but faced a backlash from the party’s hardliners and offered to resign.

“In the in-party survey conducted last week, most of the lawmakers agreed that the DP is to return to the assembly meetings,” said an aide to Kim.

The party has so far been blamed for neglecting critical issues such as the budget bill screening process.

The move was also prompted by the anxiety following the party’s feud over left-wing unity.

The party’s secretary-general Rep. Jang Se-hwan and first-term lawmaker Rep. Jung Jang-seon consecutively offered to give up their candidacy in next year’s general election.

Their decision was also a gesture of self-reflection over the commotion at the party’s national convention on Sunday, in which the party leadership violently clashed with consolidation-dissenters.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)