After Jeong Jin-woong Charged with Abuse of Authority... Jin Joong-kwon Says "Choo Must Have Pressured from Above"

"Contracted Violence by Power Is Not Something to Overlook Generously"

Jin Joong-kwon, former professor at Dongyang University / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Amid allegations of so-called 'collusion between prosecutors and media,' Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office was indicted on charges of official assault after a physical altercation occurred during the search and seizure of Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon. Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon commented on this, saying, "This is not something to be generously forgiven and overlooked."

On the 27th, in a post on his Facebook, former Professor Jin wrote, "He wouldn't have done it just because he liked being the deputy chief. It must have been because Chu Mi-ae was pressuring him from above," adding, "This is nothing but commissioned violence by those in power." He speculated that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong did not engage in the physical altercation with Prosecutor Han out of personal feelings.

That morning, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office indicted Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong without detention on charges of assaulting Prosecutor Han during the search and seizure process (official assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes).

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong, who was serving as the head of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and leading the investigation team on the collusion allegations in late July, is accused of engaging in a physical altercation with Prosecutor Han on July 29 while seizing Han's mobile phone SIM card, causing injuries requiring three weeks of medical treatment.

After the altercation, Prosecutor Han issued a statement claiming, "I was subjected to unilateral physical assault by Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung during the search and seizure procedure at the Judicial Research and Training Institute," calling it "official assault using public authority." He also filed a complaint against Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong for the charges and submitted a petition requesting an internal investigation.

On July 29, Jeong Jin-woong, then head of the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team, currently Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, was receiving treatment in the emergency room. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the other hand, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office argued that Prosecutor Han obstructed the search and seizure and that the physical contact was a restraint, not an assault. In a press release, the office stated, "Due to the physical obstruction by the subject of the search, the responsible deputy chief prosecutor fell and is currently receiving hospital treatment," rebutting the claims.

At the time, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong also released photos of himself hospitalized after the altercation. He explained, "As the person responsible for the investigation, I tried to stay until the end to complete the execution of the search warrant issued before the Prosecutors' Investigation Deliberation Committee, but when Prosecutor Han's lawyer arrived at the scene, my tension eased, and I felt symptoms of full-body muscle pain, so I visited a nearby orthopedic clinic," adding, "The doctor who examined me said my blood pressure had risen sharply and transferred me to a larger hospital."

Regarding this, former Professor Jin sarcastically criticized on his Facebook, saying, "Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung was hospitalized due to dengue fever. Wishing you a speedy recovery," and added, "You need to toughen up and undergo the internal investigation."

He continued, "The key issue is who threw the first punch. Did Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon collapse from dizziness?" and mocked, "What Jeong Jin-ung is saying is basically that the guy slapped me repeatedly with his palm and kicked me hard in the stomach with his shoe. You must have been in a lot of pain."

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