The main opposition Democratic Party on Wednesday batted away President Park Geun-hye’s proposal on talks to resolve the standoff over the National Intelligence Service.
The party turned down Cheong Wa Dae’s counteroffer for an expanded five-person meeting, reiterating its call for one-on-one talks between Park and DP leader Kim Han-gil.
An immediate compromise appeared distant as the presidential office remained equally resolute that Park was only willing to discuss administration-related affairs, as indicated in her Monday offer to have the floor leaders of the major parties participate in the talks.
The DP had requested a two-way meeting with Park over the weekend to address political strife over the NIS’ alleged political interference in last year’s presidential election. The party has taken to the street since last Wednesday in protest of what it has called the ruling camp’s interference in efforts to shed light on the case.
“It is only suitable for the president and the leader of the main opposition party to meet and find a solution for the situation. Only when the president shows respect to the opposition representative will Park become a president respected by more people,” DP leader Kim Han-gil said in a statement read out by his chief of staff Rep. Noh Woong-rae.
“If the president had faced the gravity of the situation and seriously contemplated a solution, she would not have proposed five-way talks,” Kim said, offering once again to meet exclusively.
The DP, however, is open to including a ruling Saenuri Party representative in the meeting, Noh told reporters.
The DP has set up camp in Seoul Plaza in downtown Seoul demanding Park’s apology over the NIS scandal, a promise of reform of the agency and the resignation of the current NIS chief Nam Jae-joon.
Several minutes before Kim’s statement was released, Cheong Wa Dae expressed regret over the DP’s rejection of multi-party talks.
“It is regretful as (we) believe it is appropriate to meet for the sake of the people and discuss many pending issues. Cheong Wa Dae will wait with the door (for dialogue) open,” chief of staff Kim Ki-choon was quoted as saying during a senior secretarial meeting by senior press secretary Lee Jung-hyun.
Cheong Wa Dae’s position has been that it cannot interfere in the NIS issue.
Park on Tuesday had suggested talks with the chairmen and floor leaders of the rival parties, an expanded version of the three-way talks suggested by ruling Saenuri Party leader Hwang Woo-yea the day before as an alternative to Kim’s earlier request for one-on-one talks.
Park’s counteroffer invited a sullen response from DP members who questioned Cheong Wa Dae’s sincerity.
“Park must view politics as diplomacy. She must be planning to come to the talks, listen to our discussion, and walk out by saying she hopes the National Assembly will work things out,” quipped senior DP member Rep. Park Jie-won.
The rival parties, meanwhile, agreed on the schedule and list of witnesses for the parliamentary probe into the NIS.
They agreed to question 29 witnesses including former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon and former Seoul police chief Kim Yong-pan, and to file complaints against them if they do not comply. They will continue to negotiate on other witnesses that they do not agree on.
The probe has also been extended to Aug. 23 and the hearing sessions will be held on Aug. 14, 19, and 21. The parties also agreed to gather efforts to prepare measures to reform the NIS such as by preventing its political involvement based on the outcome of their probe.
The final sticking point has been the Saenuri Party’s demand to bring in witnesses relevant to the DP’s alleged mistreatment NIS officials last year in the process of searching for the alleged slanderer of DP presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.
The DP has been demanding the summoning of two key campaigners for Park, Kim Moo-sung and Ambassador to China Kwon Young-se, as well as a former NIS official.
