Opposition Blocs Agree to Parliamentary Probe on Choi Soon-sil Scandal

The nation's three opposition parties have agreed to conduct a parliamentary inspection on the Choi Soon-sil scandal and separately pursue the establishment of an independent counsel to probe the case in line with a special law.

The floor leaders of the main opposition Democratic Party, as well as the minor People's Party and the Justice Party, reached the agreement during a meeting at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Calling the latest influence-peddling scandal the "Park Geun-hye-Choi Soon-sil Gate, the three parties demanded the president to undergo an investigation by the prosecution.

At Tuesday's meeting, the parties also vowed to seek a halt in negotiations between South Korea and Japan on adopting a military information sharing accord and pursue punishment against those responsible for the death of farmer Baek Nam-ki. They also decided to devise joint steps to stabilize rice prices.

Source: KBS World Radio