The Washington Post an published an analysis Saturday about controversy surrounding the South Korea's efforts to investigate those who benefited under Japanese rule and those who gained under past military dictatorships.

The Post reported on its website that President Roh Moo-hyun's plans to form a legislative commission to conduct such probes was viewed by some as partly designed to undermine Park Geun-hye, the head of South Korea's main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) and daughter of longtime dictator Park Chung-hee.

Park's father, who was assassinated in 1979, had earlier served as a junior officer in the Japanese military.

The Post said some South Koreans believe a broad investigation into those who collaborated with the Japanese and subsequent military rulers who ushered in dramatic economic advances at the expense of human rights, would amount to a witch hunt of the nation's upper classes.

It said many of the prominent families in Korea that prospered over the past century are believed to have had at least some ties with the occupiers, the dictators or both.

Park said Thursday that her conservative party would endorse the proposed commission only if it also investigates South Koreans who have engaged in pro-North Korean activities. The GNP has accused some of Roh's advisers, as well as several leaders in the Uri Party, of being Pyongyang sympathizers.