Reform Party Leader Lee Proposes Special Counsel Probe Into Unification Church Bribery Allegations

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, proposed a special counsel investigation into the Unification Church bribery allegations that have rocked the political establishment, stating Sunday that "former Maritime Affairs Minister Jeon Jae-soo's voluntary resignation is proof that the allegations are real."

"If the Democratic Party wants to clear itself of suspicion, it should accept a special counsel appointed by parties that are free from this matter," Lee said at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.

"For additional allegations involving the People Power Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party or the Progressive Party could make the appointment," Lee said. "Having both parties submit to verification by a neutral third party is the most reasonable approach the public can accept."

He emphasized that "the Democratic Party has no grounds to refuse a special counsel, given that PPP lawmaker Kwon Sung-dong is currently detained after Yoon Young-ho's testimony was deemed credible on the same matter."

"These are allegations that a religious organization used its enormous financial resources to collude with political power and distort representative democracy. The truth must be revealed," Lee added.

"Unlike the three special counsel bills designed by the Democratic Party that specify more than 120 dispatched prosecutors, the Reform Party will request only 15," Lee explained. "I remember how Special Counsel Huh Ik-beom achieved results in the Druking case despite various checks from the Democratic Party."

He added that "if operated according to the special counsel's original purpose rather than conducting dragnet investigations, 15 prosecutors are sufficient while saving taxpayer money."

Regarding former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's denial of the allegations, Lee said, "We should believe Minister Chung's words until additional evidence or testimony emerges, but a special counsel is needed to comprehensively investigate these allegations."

"The Democratic Party might say it will conduct its own investigation, but we need to move quickly to a compulsory investigation," he said.

Lee plans to submit special counsel-related legislation to the National Assembly as early as Monday. "If there are lawmakers in the People Power Party who agree, we will co-sign and introduce the bill," he said. "I believe this is a sufficiently reasonable proposal since we suggested a special counsel format where the Rebuilding Korea Party and Progressive Party can make appointments regarding allegations involving the People Power Party."