DP increases pressure on justice minister to resign

The main opposition party ratcheted up pressure on top government officials accused of meddling in an investigation of a former intelligence chief over illegal political activities.

Democratic Party lawmakers adopted a resolution on Thursday demanding the resignation of Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Kwak Sang-do.

The party claimed that the two officials obstructed the prosecution’s plans to arrest Won Sei-hoon and charge him for election law violations.

The former chief of the National Intelligence Service is under investigation for allegedly instructing his staff to advocate government policies and counter opposition claims through online comments before last year’s presidential election.

The prosecutors plan to indict him for allegedly violating laws governing elections and the NIS that ban agents from political activities.

The party urged the two officials to apologize and step down. It will also consider pushing for the impeachment of the minister and a parliamentary resolution for the dismissal of the presidential aide, according to Rep. Shin Kyoung-min, a Supreme Council member who leads the party’s fact-finding committee for the NIS scandal.

“We will decide on whether to submit the motions after watching Hwang’s response at the parliamentary committee on law and justice on June 19,” he said.

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)