The Saenuri Party’s Rep. Kim Moo-sung and Ambassador to China Kwon Young-se have been questioned by the prosecution investigating the alleged leaking of 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript, it was revealed Thursday.

According to the prosecution, Kwon provided answers in writing to questions sent to his location in China. Kim is also reported to be compiling his answers in writing.

Kim and Kwon, who held high-level posts in Park’s campaign, have been accused by the main opposition Democratic Party of having illegally gained access to the transcript. According to the ruling party, then-President Roh Moo-hyun denied the validity of the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea, to North Korea’s then-leader Kim Jong-il.

The DP has also disclosed a recording in which Kwon is heard saying that the ruling party would use the document against the DP if Park wins the election.

The party, however, has criticized the method of questioning and accused prosecutors of political bias ― claims that were fueled by Wednesday’s summoning of DP Rep. Moon Jae-in.

“(The prosecution) is conducting written-only questioning of Kim Moo-sung and Kwon Young-se. There isn’t even a word about investigating NIS officials. The prosecution is conducting the transcript investigation in such a two-faced manner,” DP spokeswoman Rep. Bae Jae-jeung said, adding that the prosecution had become a servant of those in power.

“(Kim and Kwon) should now be summoned as suspects. (They) should be investigated. The people will not forgive a prosecution (that works) for power.”

On Wednesday, Moon ― the Democratic presidential candidate last year ― was grilled over irregularities in handling the document. The investigation found that the initial transcript was deleted from the data storage system, but a copy has been under the NIS’ keeping. A nearly identical copy was also recovered from the data storage system at the late Roh’s retirement home in South Gyeongsang Province. 


By Choi He-suk
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)