민주 "靑,국정원의 검찰 흔들기"…법사위 소집 요구

Published : Sept 13, 2013 - 17:35 Updated : Sept 13, 2013 - 17:35

13일 오후 사퇴 발표를 한 채동욱 검찰총장이 취재진의 질문을 받으며 서울 서초동 대검찰청을 나서고 있다. (연합뉴스)

민주당은 13일 혼외아들 의혹이 제기된 채동욱 검찰총장이 전격 사의를 표명한 데 대해 "청와대와 국정원의 검찰 흔들기의 결과"라 고 비판했다.

정호준 원내대변인은 이날 국회 브리핑에서 "모처럼 검찰 독립이 뿌리내리려는 시점에 검찰총장을 흔들어 옷을 벗기는 건 검찰을 권력의 시녀로 길들이려는 음모로 규정한다"고 밝혔다.

그는 황교안 법무장관이 채 총장에 대한 감찰을 지시한 것에 대해 "검찰총장에 대한 감찰은 사상 유례없는 일로 검찰총장을 욕보여 옷 벗게 하려는 의도가 분명하다"며 "감찰 지시가 어떤 경위로 이뤄졌는지 철저히 따질 것"이라고 말했다.

정 원내대변인은 "민주당은 검찰 흔들기로 국정원 국기문란 사건의 진실규명을 방해하는 어떤 책동도 좌시하지 않을 것"이라고 밝혔다.

배재정 대변인은 채 총장 사퇴에 대해 "깊은 유감을 표명한다"며 "채 총장의 사의 표명으로 검찰이 다시 과거회귀, 정치검찰로 회귀해서는 안 된다"고 강조했다.

민주당 법사위원들은 성명을 내고 "황 장관의 감찰 지시는 채 총장을 제거하려는 권력의 음모로 밖에 볼 수 없다"고 비판했다.

이들은 "국정원 대선개입 재판에 대한 간섭이자 공안정국의 시작이요, 우리 검찰의 불행한 역사의 반복"이라며 "앞으로 진행될 김용판, 원세훈 재판이 공정하게 진행될 수 있을지 우려스럽다"고 밝혔다.

야당 법사위원들은 이날 이와 관련해 긴급대책회의를 갖고 오는 16일 법사위 소집 요구를 하기로 했다. 법사위 전체회의를 열어 이번 사안을 파악하고 대책을 강구 하겠다고 이들은 밝혔다.

<관련 영문 기사>

Prosecution chief offers to resign over love child scandal

By Cho Chung-un and Lee Hyun-jeong

Top prosecutor Chae Dong-wook offered to resign Friday over allegations that he secretly had a son through an extramarital affair.

The prosecutor general continued to deny the claim by a conservative newspaper, but said he might not be able to carry out his duties amid the scandal.

The main opposition Democratic Party suspects that Cheong Wa Dae and the National Intelligence Service may be pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Since he took office in April, Chae has spearheaded an investigation into the spy agency alleged interference in last year’s presidential election.

The announcement came shortly after Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-an ordered an internal investigation of Chae over the controversial report that first appeared last Friday.

“I would like to put down the heavy burden of prosecutor general,” Chae was quoted as saying by spokesman Koo Bon-sun. Chae apologized for failing to complete his term, the spokesman said.

“I want to say once again that the report regarding my personal matter is completely groundless.”

The Chosun Ilbo, the nation’s largest daily, published a series of articles claiming that the prosecution chief fathered a son in 2002 with a woman he met in 1999. Chae and his wife have a daughter.

Chae responded he would take a paternity test as soon as possible to “reveal the truth.” On Thursday, Chae said he will file a lawsuit against the newspaper for retraction.

The tit-for-tat between Chae and the daily escalated further when the 54-year-old woman identified by her surname Lim sent a letter to liberal newspaper Hankyoreh earlier this week explaining that her son was not Chae’s offspring and that she only used his name to protect her child as he grew older.

Chae and Lim reportedly became acquainted while she was running a bar in Busan in 1999 when Chae was serving there.

Even though Chae stood firm against the allegations, he offered to resign an hour later the Justice Ministry said it would conduct an internal investigation into the matter.

It is the first time a justice minister has ordered an investigation into the country’s top prosecutor over a personal scandal.

“There was an urgent need to end the controversy and promote the stability of the prosecution office by revealing the truth as soon as possible,” the ministry said, adding that an independent counsel will look into the case and report the results directly to the minister. Chae is no longer subject to investigation since he stepped down from the post.

The main opposition Democratic Party expressed regrets over Chae’s resignation and called for a committee meeting at the National Assembly on Monday.

“We express a deep regret. The prosecutor general seems to have thought that he couldn’t carry out his duty in proper manner anymore,” DP spokeswoman Bae Jae-jeong said.

“Minister Hwang’s order for an investigation can be only viewed as an attempt to eliminate prosecutor-general Chae,” DP members to the Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly said in joint statement.

The ruling Saenuri also expressed concern, calling it “unfortunate.” Cheong Wa Dae, however, remained in silence, declining to comment.

Chae, the first prosecutor general appointed by President Park Geun-hye, took office in April for a two-year term. He succeeded Han Sang-dae who resigned over a series of high-profile scandals within the organization.

Since taking office, Chae has been stepping up efforts to regain public trust by handling a number of high-profile cases, such as CJ’s alleged slush fund and collecting a massive amount of unpaid fines from ex-presidents.

The prosecution is currently investigating the state spy agency’s alleged political intervention during the last presidential election. Former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon and the ex-Seoul police chief have been indicted for their alleged roles in the political scandal. Opposition parties have been criticizing the report, saying it was intended to sway the prosecution’s ongoing investigation into the spy agency.

“I think I did my best to lead the prosecution in accordance with law and principle for the past five months,” Chae told reporters while leaving the office.

(christory@heraldcorp.com)
(rene@heraldcorp.com)