The main opposition Democratic Party will file for the dismissal of three top government officials including Minister of Justice Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday over their alleged involvement in developments surrounding last year’s presidential election.

The proposals will be submitted after Tuesday’s interpellation session.

The move, aimed at pressuring the government and the ruling Saenuri Party, follows the “regretful” parliamentary address from President Park Geun-hye, in which she avoided commenting directly on political issues.

Hwang has been accused of interfering in the probe into the National Intelligence Service’s alleged election meddling by prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol. Yoon headed the investigation until he was taken off the case and reposted to the prosecution’s office in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province for ignoring protocol.

Although the DP has been calling on the president to take a hand in related developments, Park said only that she will respect any agreement the parties reach.

While DP chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil gave a mixed response to the comment, saying that it was noteworthy, other opposition lawmakers attacked the president saying that she was avoiding responsibility.

The main opposition’s demands include launching a special counsel investigation on issues surrounding last year’s presidential election, and to establish a special parliamentary committee for reforming the NIS.

Along with Hwang, the DP is taking steps for the dismissal of NIS chief Nam Jae-joon and Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sung-choon. The DP has been pushing for Nam’s removal from office claiming that his decision to reveal parts of the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript to Saenuri Party lawmakers was illegal.

As for Park Sung-choon, his organization has been found to have used booklets that branded progressive politicians -- including late former presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun -- as being pro-North Korea.


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