Panel hits nerve in honoring N.K. spies; Public, conservative.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Kim So-young Just weeks ago, ruling and opposition lawmakers considered giving greater power to a presidential commission investigating the mysterious deaths of democracy campaigners during Korea's military dictatorships.

Now, entangled in an ideological debate following its decision this month to portray three North Korean spies as "democratic figures," the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths is facing the possibility of being dismantled. The temporary commission completed its second one-year term on June 30 and new parliamentary approval is required for it to begin its next term. The public and many conservative lawmakers question whether it needs to exist.

"It's outrageous to extend the activities of commission members who went against common sense to rule that (North Korean) agents were democratic figures," said Rep. Kong Sung-jin of the conservative opposition Grand National Party. "We must review whether the commission deserves to continue." The commission ruled early this month that the deaths of the North Korean agents, due to torture by the military government in …