Main opposition party demands all-out gov't response to Japan's pressure on Naver

SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) demanded Monday that the government respond all-out to the Japanese government's move to force the sale of Naver's stake in the operator of Line, the biggest messenger app in Japan.

DP floor leader Park Chan-dae made the demand during a party Supreme Council meeting as South Korea's biggest internet portal operator has come under pressure from Tokyo to "review its capital relationship" in LY, the operator of Line, which is controlled by a joint venture between Naver and SoftBank of Japan, over a massive leak of user information last year.

"The government must protect our businesses with an all-out interagency response, while the People Power Party must convene its standing committee and cooperate in coming up with countermeasures," Park said, referring to the ruling party. "If they don't, they will be criticized for being a traitor government and a traitor party."

Park accused the government of standing by idly in the face of the Japanese government's pressure on Naver to unload its stake in the Naver-SoftBank joint venture.

"Will a government that can't say a word against an invasion of our economic sovereignty be able to fight back against an attack on our territorial sovereignty?" Park said, citing what he said are public concerns the government could surrender the easternmost islets of Dokdo, which Tokyo has repeatedly laid claim to.

hague@yna.co.kr
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