Political Backlash Over Prosecution’s Decision
The People Power Party launched a strong response on the 8th, criticizing the prosecution’s decision to stop appealing against defendants who received prison sentences in the first trial of the Seongnam Daejang-dong development corruption case. The party accused President Lee Jae-myung of using his power to shield himself from investigation, calling the move “an abuse of power.” They also claimed that the order to abandon the appeal violated the constitutional order and could be grounds for impeachment.
Representative Jang Dong-hyeok expressed his frustration via Facebook about the resignation of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-woo following the decision. He compared the situation to a scenario where “the father committed the crime, but the son is going to prison.” Jang argued that what should have been abandoned was not the appeal, but rather the authority of the Minister of Justice, Jung Sung-ho, to direct investigations. He emphasized that the Minister of Justice should have stopped directing investigations in a case where the president was indicted as a co-conspirator. Jang criticized the prosecution for even consulting the Ministry of Justice on whether to appeal.
He continued by stating that the decision to abandon the appeal would never have occurred if Lee Jae-myung had not become president. Jang suggested that now that the prosecution has surrendered, the Democratic Party of Korea and the presidential office will create a puppet prosecution that can intimidate the courts at will.
Floor Leader Song Eon-seog also voiced concerns on Facebook, claiming there were suspicions of power-based obstruction of investigations and external pressure under the Lee Jae-myung administration. He described the situation as a systematic crime that undermines the constitutional order and shakes the nation’s judicial system, hindering punishment for the Daejang-dong development corruption case.
Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, a member of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stated that this situation is a clear ground for impeachment. He stressed that no one, including the president, the Minister of Justice, or anyone else, is above scrutiny. Joo claimed that co-conspirator Lee Jae-myung had already publicly ordered, under the guise of public opinion, “If the first trial results in acquittal, abandon the appeal,” which he considered an abuse of power.
Former Representative Han Dong-hoon also commented on Facebook, saying that the prosecution’s decision to abandon the appeal meant “the Korean prosecution has committed suicide.” He called for those involved in issuing the “dirty illegal order to abandon the appeal for one person, Lee Jae-myung” to face consequences. Han added that even the current prosecutors who are only now submitting their resignations after the fact should be punished for “whining after everything is over.”
Reform Party Representative Lee Jun-seok wrote on Facebook that the Daejang-dong case is linked to the president, and someone has withdrawn the prosecutor’s sword. He remarked, “They say justice flows like a river, but in the Lee Jae-myung administration, injustice flows like a sewer.”