President Moon Chooses Direct Approach... Blue House's Strategic Move to 'Frame Shift'

President Moon directs Blue House cooperation in Prosecutor's Office Optimus investigation... Ruling party shifts from defense to offense, opposition considers special prosecutor card

[Asia Economy reporters Jeongmin Ryu, Hyemin Kim, Nahum Kang] "Nothing can be a sanctuary from the prosecution's strict investigation." President Moon Jae-in's choice of a 'direct approach' marks a turning point in the Lime and Optimus controversies. The prosecution has been able to gain momentum in the investigation by removing the burden of the 'invisible hand.' This is because no one within the ruling party can now afford to show an uncooperative attitude toward the investigation.

From the opposition party's perspective, which had intensified its offensive, the situation inevitably becomes complicated. Following the Democratic Party of Korea, even the Blue House has shown an active stance toward the prosecution's investigation, making the opposition's response a new variable. The 'gate' controversy, implying power-related corruption, hinges on the initial momentum battle.

If the ruling party becomes overly defensive against the opposition's offensive, the spark of suspicion may spread, potentially weakening the government's driving force regardless of the actual facts of the case. This is why it is important to pay close attention to the change in the Blue House's response between the night of the 13th and the afternoon of the 14th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang Min-seok, the Blue House spokesperson, stated in a message to reporters on the night of the 13th, "Records of Blue House access are not disclosed externally in accordance with the Act on Disclosure of Information by Public Agencies."

On the afternoon of the 14th, he conveyed President Moon's message: "To quickly resolve the suspicions, the Blue House should actively cooperate with the prosecution's investigation." A key Blue House official explained, "If a request comes (from the prosecution), we have decided to cooperate more proactively based on President Moon's directive."

Regarding the change in the Blue House's stance, there is also an analysis that this confidence comes from internal screening results showing no fatal damage such as involvement of high-ranking officials. Although suspicions surrounding former Blue House administrator Lee Mo, who is mentioned as a key figure in the Optimus private equity fund fraud case, are ongoing, it is believed that it is advantageous to clear the controversy through the prosecution's investigation.

Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho said in an interview with tbs radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' on the 15th, "If it were related to a key figure in our administration or anyone else, of course, they should be punished. But according to our internal investigation, this case does not appear to be like that."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This can also be confirmed as the ruling party's stance. Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the National Assembly audit countermeasure meeting on the 15th, "The prosecution should investigate the Lime and Optimus financial fraud cases thoroughly without any suspicion or sanctuary and reveal the full picture of the cases," adding, "Those who committed crimes must be punished regardless of their rank or position."

In particular, Floor Leader Kim emphasized, "It is regrettable that the financial fraud cases are being labeled as power-related gates without any basis and used as tools for political strife," and explained, "A power-related gate means that a person with power exercises it to help obtain unfair benefits or illegal acts." This was a proactive move to block the offensive before public suspicion grows.

The opposition party is also not easing its offensive to avoid losing the initial momentum battle. Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at the emergency committee meeting on the 15th, "I am skeptical whether the prosecution can maintain a thorough investigation at this point."

At the same meeting, Joo Ho-young, the People Power Party floor leader, argued, "The Optimus and Lime incidents should now go to a special prosecutor," and insisted, "President Moon should not tell the Blue House to cooperate with the investigation but should order the prosecution to form a special investigation team and conduct a strict investigation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.