Foreign Affairs Committee, 'Wiretapping and Eavesdropping Allegations' Lee Mun-hee Attendance Dispute... Opposition: "Took Half-Day Off to Escape"

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over allegations of wiretapping by U.S. intelligence agencies on the presidential office and the attendance of former National Security Office diplomatic secretary Lee Moon-hee at a meeting during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.

At the plenary session of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held on the 12th, attended by Foreign Minister Park Jin and Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, the ruling and opposition parties confronted each other regarding reports that conversations between former National Security Office chief Kim Sung-han and former secretary Lee were included in the wiretapping content.

The Democratic Party of Korea demanded that former secretary Lee provide a direct explanation at the meeting. Lee Jae-jung, the Democratic Party's floor leader, said, "This is the first time I have heard such an arrogant statement telling us to reach an agreement between the ruling and opposition floor leaders while requesting the attendance of a public official who needs to explain." He added, "If there are points that threaten national security, we told the ruling party that we would hold a closed meeting and asked the person involved to come and report, but in the end, former secretary Lee took a half-day leave today, when the committee meeting was held." He then demanded Lee's attendance within the day.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Kyung-hyup also joined in, saying, "A public official called by the National Assembly to verify the truth took a half-day leave and fled..."

Kim Tae-ho, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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On the other hand, Kim Seok-ki, the floor leader of the People Power Party, rebutted, "Our presidential office has made a clear statement, but they are trying to expand the suspicion and are demanding the attendance of related personnel immediately today." He continued, "The defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. clearly announced that a significant portion of the documents were forged and fabricated, and the current presidential office announced that it has established and operates a wiretapping prevention system stronger than that of the Blue House. Former chief Kim also said that the document contents are not true." He added, "I strongly regret the remarks of the Democratic Party floor leader."

The opposition also took issue with the remarks of Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the National Security Office, who said there was "no evidence that the U.S. wiretapped with malicious intent."

Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho said about Kim's remarks, "This is a very serious problem," and criticized, "The government's initial approach is extremely humiliating, and I cannot help but warn against the way they are trying to cover up the allegations."

Kim Kyung-hyup also said, "It is pathetic to the point of doubting whether we are a sovereign nation. It is utterly servile," and independent lawmaker Kim Hong-gul criticized, "They are desperate to defend the perpetrator."

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