By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

Chong Wa Dae on Monday showed no signs of discontent after a public rebuttal by prosecutors of President Roh Moo-hyun’s call for leniency on corrupt chaebol,

Presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young renewed Chong Wa Dae’s opposing stance to subjecting business tycoons to direct punishment. ``President Roh has been maintaining the firmly established position that the prosecution investigation should not adversely affect the economy,’’ Yoon told The Korea Times.

Yoon did not elaborate on how Chong Wa Dae would respond if the prosecution continues to resist the administration’s call for leniency and to press for an investigation of businesses. ``It is not proper to comment on future things,’’ Yoon said.

The judicial branch joined with the prosecution in attacking the presidential office. Do Doo-hyung, director in charge of public relations for the Korea Bar Association, said Roh’s call for leniency would sway the prosecution. ``Such remarks by the head of state, who administers the personnel for the prosecution, will certainly affect the direction of the future investigation,’’ Do said.

Another association official launched a harsher attack on Roh. ``The president’s statement is a challenge to the people’s will to put an end to corruption,’’ he said.

Chong Wa Dae and the prosecution have been at odds since President Roh Moo-hyun’s remark. The prosecution yesterday fiercely resisted Roh’s statement pledging it would, on principle, press ahead with the investigation.

``It is only an expression of the president’s hope. There can be various considerations, but we have our own stance and it has not changed at all,’’ said prosecutor Ahn Dai-hui of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office who is heading investigations.

During an interview with vernacular JoongAng Ilbo, Roh opposed possible legal punishment of the conglomerate leaders, saying it would have a negative impact on the national economy.

Ahn said he intended to get to the bottom of the corruption charges involving politicians and businesses and to base legal penalties on the law rather than political motivations. ``We will take all factors into account, including the collection of slush funds, attempts to hide crimes and whether suspected figures are repentant,’’ Ahn said.