The opposition camp is concentrating fire on the "Unification Church gate," which alleges the Unification Church provided cash and gifts to Democratic Party of Korea politicians.
Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok said on the 11th, "I propose appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the Unification Church's provision of political funds to Democratic Party politicians."
Lee said, "If the Democratic Party wants to clear itself of suspicion, it should accept a special counsel recommended by a party that is free of involvement in this matter," adding, "The Reform Party will recommend a special counsel candidate to investigate the allegations that the Unification Church provided political funds to figures in the Democratic Party."
Lee added, "For additional allegations involving the People Power Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party or The Progressive Party can make recommendations," stressing, "Both parties should submit to verification by a third party uninvolved in this matter; that is the most reasonable option the public can accept."
Lee said, "With lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong detained after the credibility of Deputy Minister Yoon Young-ho's statement was recognized in the same matter, the Democratic Party has no justification to refuse a special counsel," adding, "By hinting at dissolving the Unification Church, the president is effectively gagging Deputy Minister Yoon Young-ho's courtroom testimony, so investigative agencies influenced by the president can no longer investigate this matter, and even if a result comes out, it will be hard to earn the public's trust."
People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-young also said, "As special counsel team Min Joong-ki investigates alleged collusion between the Unification Church and People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seon-dong, a revelation has emerged that the Unification Church also made all-out approaches to the Democratic Party of Korea, flinging open the hell gate of the 'Unification Church gate,'" adding, "Since the court has said former Deputy Minister Yoon Young-ho's testimony is credible in the case involving lawmaker Kwon Seon-dong, there is a strong possibility it will reach a similar conclusion in Minister Chun Jae-soo's case."
Park said, "The hell gate of the 'Unification Church gate' has already been flung open. The stage where force could block it has already passed," adding, "What other reason could there be for special counsel team Min Joong-ki, which tried to hush up and cover this case, to belatedly assign a case number and hastily transfer it to the National Office of Investigation (NOI), making such a fuss? It must be because they realized they could no longer hide it."
The People Power Party plans to file a criminal complaint on the morning of the day at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo and current and former Democratic Party lawmakers on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and accepting bribes in connection with the Unification Church cash-and-gifts allegations. Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki and the investigation team will be accused of dereliction of duty.