eFM News

[Anchor]

The National Assembly has passed some contentious bills today, including those regarding a special counsel probe into an online opinion rigging scandal and the government's extra budget proposal.

While clearing the legislative backlog, lawmakers rejected motions to arrest two representatives accused of corruptive practices.

Jeong-eun Lee reports.

[Reporter]

The opposition parties have managed to push through a special probe into the online opinion rigging scandal revolving around a power blogger nicknamed Druking.

So far, police know the blogger used a computer rigging program to tamper with some 20,000 comments on Internet news articles in January.

The investigation will likely focus on clarifying the alleged ties between Druking and former ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Kyung-soo, who is accused of exchanging messages with the blogger about his illicit cyber activities.

The ruling bloc also achieved its goal of passing the government's proposal for a supplementary budget aimed at creating jobs for young people.

As the bill has been delayed for more than a month, the government is vowing to accelerate its execution.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly voted down motions seeking the arrest of two main opposition Liberty Korea Party lawmakers Hong Moon-jong and Yeom Dong-yeol accused of wrongdoing.

Hong is suspected of embezzling nearly two billion won in funds from a private school foundation where he sits as the chairman of the board.

Yeom, on the other hand, faces allegations of soliciting jobs for his acquaintances at state-run casino operator Kangwon Land.

Prosecutors will have to decide whether to indict them without detention or to seek their arrest again after a June extraordinary session is over.

Jeong-eun Lee, eFM News.■