(LEAD) Prosecutors raid opposition party members' offices over false accusations against Moon's son

(ATTN: ADDS parties' reactions in last four paras)

SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors raided the offices and homes of two members of a minor opposition party Wednesday as part of an investigation into false allegations they made against President Moon Jae-in's son.

During the election campaign, the People's Party claimed that his son Moon Joon-yong was unfairly hired at the Korea Employment Information Service in late 2006 when Moon was a senior presidential secretary.

The party Monday apologized and said its member Lee You-mi manipulated materials to cook up the false allegation. Lee was taken into custody later that day. A former senior party official named Lee Jun-seo was banned from overseas travel on Tuesday on suspicions that he was behind the scheme.

Investigators visited the residences and workplaces of the two on Wednesday and confiscated their computers and other evidence, according to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

Lee You-mi reportedly confessed to fabricating an anonymous tip-off about Moon's hiring and stated she didn't act alone.

Lee Jun-seo, a former member of the party's decision-making body, is known to have relayed her fabricated tip-off to the party.

The prosecution said the raid is to find out whether there was any involvement from the People's Party.

Moon's ruling Democratic Party and the People's Party have sued each other over the allegations.

The ruling party lambasted the People's Party, stressing the fake allegations against Moon's son constitute a "grave" violation of the election law and run counter to democratic principles.

"That this incident has taken place in the People's Party, which is pursuing 'new politics,' is shocking," Choo Mi-ae, the ruling party leader, said during a meeting with party members, urging a thorough prosecutorial probe into the case.

Park Joo-sun, the interim leader of the People's Party, struggled to cope with mounting criticism, reiterating that the suspect apparently manipulated the allegation by herself with no directive from party seniors.

Some members of the embattled party called for an independent counsel probe, which the ruling party discounted as an attempt to water down the case.

elly@yna.co.kr
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