Opposition parties join up to battle 'biased investigation'

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The nation's opposition parties said Friday they will unite to combat what they called a "politically biased investigation" into a Democratic Party (DP) official's fundraising practices, accusing the government of pulling strings to silence its rivals.

Prosecutors are seeking a warrant for the arrest of a ranking DP official on
suspicion of taking illegal donations ahead of the April parliamentary elections.
The accused official, Kim Min-seok, has denied all charges and refused
prosecutors' summons. Kim launched a sit-in along with other DP lawmakers at the
party's headquarters Friday.
"The leaders of the three parties agreed to launch a joint action against the
prosecution's oppressive hunt of the opposition," DP spokesman Choi Jae-sung told
reporters after attending a chair meeting with the Democratic Labor Party and the
Renewal of Korea Party. "If necessary, the three parties will join street
protests with civic groups to denounce the political investigations."
Kim held a press conference Friday, once again claiming his innocence.
"I have never violated the law or accepted any bribes," he said. "I am ready to
fight the prosecution which has been unlawful, biased and oppressive towards the
opposition political camp."
Kim, 44, is accused of receiving illicit donations worth several hundreds of
millions of won from several businesspeople ahead of the parliamentary election.
A former legislator who ran unsuccessfully against President Lee Myung-bak for
Seoul mayor in 2002, Kim failed to win a National Assembly seat in April.
Prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on Kim last month and have been
tracing his money transfers since then. Kim was summoned for interrogation last
week.
"There is no other way but to believe that the prosecution is launching a target
shot at the opposition party," said Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the DP. "We will
act strongly this time."
hayney@yna.co.kr
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