Political Repercussions Over Recommendation of 'Han Dong-hoon Non-Prosecution'... Sharply Divided Ruling and Opposition Parties

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee has recommended the suspension of investigation and non-prosecution of Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon, who is at the center of the 'prosecutor-media collusion' allegations, sparking repercussions in the political sphere.

While ruling party figures reacted with opposition targeting the Deliberation Committee, the opposition party launched an offensive urging the ruling party to "regain composure."

Upon the announcement of the Deliberation Committee's recommendation, ruling party members who have been vocal about prosecutorial reform unanimously criticized the committee.

Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on Facebook on the 25th, "Is it possible to have an opinion of 'suspending investigation' without even conducting very basic investigations such as summoning the suspect?" He sharply criticized, "The current Deliberation Committee has become a face-saving body for the prosecution to handle or overlook cases that are burdensome to them according to their own preferences."

Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, also shared the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's statement saying "It is hard to accept" on Facebook. Hwang Hee-seok, a Supreme Council member of the same party, argued, "The people selected by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol ultimately sabotage like this," adding, "The Deliberation Committee, which was used as a shield for prosecutorial reform, now inevitably requires fundamental reform and surgery."

On the other hand, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, criticized in a verbal statement, "The Deliberation Committee is a device created by the Moon Jae-in administration to prevent prosecutorial overreach," and said, "They created it themselves claiming to 'reform' the prosecution, but when it does not suit their tastes, they try to spit it out calling it 'deep-rooted evils.'"

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the same party, also raised his voice on Facebook on the 26th, saying, "The ruling party collectively criticized the Deliberation Committee for making decisions that do not suit their tastes and denied the very reason for the committee's existence, showing a 'contradiction of self-denial' again," and added, "Although ruling party powers shout prosecutorial reform with their lips, their dark intentions are to make the prosecution a loyal dog of power, and now they blatantly reveal this without even considering public opinion, which is truly despicable."

Jung Jin-seok, a member of the United Future Party, also shared on his Facebook the position Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon expressed when appearing before the Deliberation Committee, showing agreement with the committee's recommendation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.