An opposition lawmaker raised new allegations Sunday against President Park Geun-hye’s choice for prime minister, saying the nominee lied about correcting his failure to report the purchase of a luxurious apartment, adding pressure on the nominee to withdraw from candidacy voluntarily.
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| Rep. Jin Sung-joon (Yonhap) |
Lee Wan-koo, former floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party tapped for the post, said during last week’s confirmation hearing that he asked the National Assembly Secretariat to correct his assets report after learning that he mistakenly omitted his 2003 purchase of the Tower Palace apartment. Rep. Jin Sung-joon of the main opposition New Politics Alliance said the secretariat has confirmed this was not true.
The opposition has raised suspicions that Lee had accepted illegal political funds in 2002 that could have been used to purchase the high-class apartment in southern Seoul and that the nominee omitted the property from his assets list to hide the source of the money.
The fresh allegation was raised on the eve of the parliamentary plenary session during which lawmakers would vote on whether to approve Lee as prime minister.
After the hearings, the rival parties agreed to postpone the vote, initially expected Thursday, to Monday. Since being nominated last month, Lee has come under fire for alleged ethical lapses that include real estate speculations, attempts to control the press and the dodging of mandatory military service.
By law, the candidate for prime minister must earn parliamentary approval.
Bashing Lee for “lying (about the transaction) in front of the people,” Rep. Jin urged the nominee “to make a decision” in an apparent demand that he withdraw.
The nominee did not comment on the fresh allegation.
On Sunday, a group of opposition lawmakers issued a statement calling on Lee to “expect no more leniency from the people and to voluntarily withdraw before the plenary session.”
Lee is President Park’s third nominee for prime minister since May, after the first two quit over allegations of ethical and other lapses. Lee’s failure to win the approval could cause another major setback for the Park administration in running state affairs. Her approval rating has been nearing an all-time low for her administration.
In South Korea, the prime minister is the second-highest position after the president, but the job has largely been a ceremonial role as power is concentrated heavily in the president. (Yonhap)
