Kwon Young-jin: "Han Dong-hoon's Attacks Over Roh Moo-hyun Are Unproductive... I Won't Join the Fray"
People Power Party Rep. Kwon Young-jin dismissed the allegations by independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon that former President Roh Moo-hyun received money and gifts, calling them an "unproductive political fight," and said he would not take part in the dispute. Speaking on MBC radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" on Monday, Kwon noted that the late former President Roh died while under prosecution investigation over suspicions that he had received luxury watches and money from Park Yeon-cha, chairman of Taekwang Industrial, and that Park had also passed away. He added that the case was ultimately closed with no charges filed due to a lack of prosecutable evidence.
"The party who allegedly gave the bribes has died, and former President Roh, who was suspected of receiving them, has also died," Kwon said. "The investigation was halted and ended with a no-charge decision. Can a truth-finding contest really be held on this now?" He went on to call it "an unproductive political fight," adding, "I would appreciate it if I were not dragged into this battle."
Kwon, a member of the People Power Party's reformist group "Alternative and Future," has been regarded as relatively friendly toward Han, in contrast to the party establishment that strongly opposed his reinstatement.
The dispute began with a series of claims by Han. At a seminar on criminal procedure law reform on October 1, the independent lawmaker alleged that former President Roh had received a Piaget watch worth more than 300 million won from Park Yeon-cha, either himself or through family members, along with billions of won. The following day, he posted on Facebook that it was a "fact" that Roh or his family had received two Piaget watches and billions of won from Park.
This drew backlash from the Democratic Party. Democratic Party Rep. Yoon Gun-young said on October 2, "Former President Roh took his own life amid the contempt, ridicule, and harassment of a politicized prosecution. How can Rep. Han, himself a symbol of the abuse of prosecutorial power, be so brazen and despicable?" Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Kye-won also noted, "President Roh denied the allegations, yet he was driven to his death through malicious publication of unverified accusations. There was never a court ruling on the matter."
The dispute then extended to Rep. Kwak Sang-eon of the Democratic Party, Roh's son-in-law. On October 3, Kwak countered, "They dare call all those investigations and media reports 'facts.' If they can clearly show and verify those facts, I will take responsibility." The same day, Han fired back on Facebook: "Roh or his family received a large sum from Park Yeon-cha to buy an apartment in the United States for Rep. Kwak and his wife, and yet Rep. Kwak has something to say? Shouldn't Rep. Kwak be criticizing those who exploit former President Roh's death?" Han's Facebook posts have continued since.
That even Kwon, who had been friendly toward Han, is now seeking to distance himself from the dispute underscores how the conflict over claims about the deceased and their verification is spreading across the political divide and throughout the political establishment.
