Rival parties agreed Monday to launch this week a parliamentary investigation into allegations that the state spy agency meddled in last year’s presidential election.

The probe, which will run for 45 days starting on Tuesday, will look into allegations that former National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon ordered an online smear campaign to sway public opinion in favor of the ruling party ahead of the Dec. 19 election.

The probe is also expected to focus on former Seoul metropolitan police chief Kim Yong-pan’s alleged involvement in the scandal. Kim was suspected of trying to whitewash the results of a police investigation into the scandal.

Last month, prosecutors indicted Won and Kim on charges of meddling in the election.

Also to be investigated are the ruling party’s claims that the main opposition party mistreated and violated the human rights of an NIS employee accused of posting political comments online as part of the smear campaign against the then opposition candidate, Moon Jae-in.

The investigation will also look into claims that the opposition party promised a promotion to a then NIS staffer in return for confidential information from the spy agency if it won the presidential election. (Yonhap News)