"‘Gongsoocheo Operation’ ‘Let’s Have a Special Prosecutor’... Ruling and Opposition Parties’ Heated Rhyme Battle"

Kim Jong-in Officially Proposes Special Prosecutor... "No Reason to Refuse if Innocent"
People Power Party Launches Full Offensive, Reveals Additional Optimus Ruling Party Investor List
Lee Nak-yeon: "Will Expedite Establishment and Operation of Corruption Investigation Office"
Ruling Party: "Special Prosecutor Not Discussed at All"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Won Dara] The Democratic Party of Korea launched a full-scale offensive as the opposition party announced plans to propose a special prosecutor law to resolve the Lime and Optimus suspicions, triggered by a prison letter from former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun. They also revealed an additional list of ruling party figures who were investors in Optimus.

In response, the Democratic Party of Korea intensified pressure on the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) launch, based on former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun's prison letter alleging that prosecutors and opposition politicians were involved in the Lime Asset Management scandal. Since the opposition has not nominated members, causing delays in HOCI's launch, it is interpreted that the ruling party has begun efforts to build justification for amending the HOCI founding law.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, mentioned Kim Bong-hyun's prison letter during the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day, saying, "There is considerable confusion regarding the Lime and Optimus cases," and officially proposed conducting a special prosecutor investigation.

Chairman Kim added, "The bill submission is being prepared by the floor leader," and said, "If the ruling party is confident, there is no reason to refuse the special prosecutor." Regarding Floor Leader Joo Ho-young's remark about considering street protests if the special prosecutor is not realized, he said, "That is something we need to wait and see for now," and added, "If nothing works, we may have to choose it as a last resort."

Floor Leader Joo Ho-young also said, "We should entrust the investigation to a special prosecutor for a thorough probe, and both ruling and opposition parties must immediately stop political strife surrounding this issue," and added, "We will submit a special prosecutor law to realize the special prosecutor as soon as possible."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ruling party called for a thorough investigation of the opposition party.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting on the 19th, "A key figure in the Lime scandal revealed through a prison letter that the prosecution knew about the misconduct of prosecutors and lobbying suspicions involving opposition politicians but did not properly investigate. We must now conduct a thorough investigation," and added, "We will expedite the establishment and operation of the HOCI."

Leader Lee said, "There is one week left for the opposition to nominate members for the HOCI chief candidate," and urged, "If the opposition fails to nominate, please prepare within the floor to enact alternative legislation according to the National Assembly Act procedures."

Earlier, the Democratic Party notified the People Power Party that the final deadline for appointing members to recommend the HOCI chief candidate is the 26th. There is speculation that this case could be used as justification to push through amendments to the HOCI founding law.

Within the party, there is a strong sentiment that since prosecutors are also suspected of being targets of lobbying, this could serve as justification for launching the HOCI. Choi In-ho, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party, described Kim's prison letter as a "revelation of a fabricated investigation" on Facebook the day before, saying, "There is a claim that the Kim Bong-hyun exposure case should be the first investigation target of the HOCI," and conveyed the internal party atmosphere as "a reasonable claim."

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, emphasized, "The collective corruption of some prosecutors and the fabricated targeted investigation suspicions hidden behind the financial fraud cases are shocking in themselves," and stressed, "The Democratic Party demands a strong investigation without any suspicion regardless of party or position." He added, "Anyone found guilty in the Lime and Optimus cases, whether in politics or finance, must be severely punished."

Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung, who is involved in the suspicions, also supported the case by filing complaints against lawyer prosecutors. Kang appeared on TBS radio that morning and said, "We decided to file complaints against two unidentified prosecutors, A and B, at the Southern District Prosecutors' Office." Regarding the prosecution's start of GPS analysis, he said, "There have been countless investigations since July last year. I believe they checked not only GPS but also various phones back then, so I find it somewhat displeasing that they are doing it now."

The Democratic Party stated that the special prosecutor introduction demanded by the opposition is impossible. Baek Hye-ryun, a Democratic Party lawmaker, appeared on YTN radio and said, "There has been no discussion so far," cutting off the possibility. She added, "After the 26th, there will be no more room from our party's perspective," and said, "As the chairperson of the first subcommittee, I will have no choice but to open the bill subcommittee immediately to review the HOCI law amendment bill."

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