By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter


The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) on Thursday threatened to submit a resolution to dismiss Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, harshly criticizing his continuing offensive remarks against the party.

The already expected inter-party dispute at the parliamentary interpellation session starting Thursday was further aggravated when Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan refused the GNP demand for an apology for his controversial remarks against it.

Lee instead added scathing criticism of the conservative party’s corruptive practices in the past.

``I don’t think I have to apologize because I just told the truth,’’ Lee said, in an answer to Rep. Ahn Taek-soo of the GNP, who asked Lee to apologize for his ``reckless words’’ against the party and the nation’s two conservative newspapers: Chosun Ilbo and DongA Ilbo.

He recalled that the GNP received illegal political funds from businesses at an underground parking lot, referring to the party’s taking tens of billions of won in bribes from the nation’s four major business conglomerates during the 2002 presidential election.

Angry members of the GNP immediately held an emergency meeting after the morning session and boycotted the afternoon session as Lee rejected their demand for an immediate apology.

``I think Lee should step down, and we will positively review the plan to submit a resolution to dismiss Lee for his irresponsible remarks,’’ said Nam Kyong-phil in a media briefing.

``Lee’s remarks were too biased and seem politically motivated. Does he mean the Uri Party is clean in the last illegal funding scandal as it received less than the GNP?’’

The GNP spokeswoman Chun Yu-ok said the party members will boycott the remaining session unless Lee offers a sincere apology to the party and promises not to make such remarks again.

The National Assembly interpellation session is scheduled to continue through next Wednesday. The Assembly is supposed to inspect government policies on economic, political and social sectors.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr