[Comprehensive] "Stop the Rampage Immediately" Prosecution Investigates 'Wolseong Unit 1'... Ruling Party Conflict Peaks

Lee Nak-yeon "Prosecution's Political Investigation of Wolseong Unit 1 Is Abuse of Prosecutorial Power"
Democratic Party Leadership Jointly Condemns Prosecution

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The ruling party fiercely criticized the prosecution on the 5th for conducting a search and seizure of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and its affiliated energy public enterprises in connection with allegations of the early shutdown of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. They condemned the prosecution's search and seizure as a "political investigation," criticizing it as an "abuse of prosecutorial power," comparing it to the level of investigation during former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's case.

On the morning of the 6th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the party's Supreme Council meeting that the prosecution's search and seizure of MOTIE and related agencies regarding the alleged manipulation of the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Unit 1 was a "political investigation and abuse of prosecutorial power." He pointed out, "The Board of Audit and Inspection did not even request an investigation, yet the prosecution responded massively to a politically motivated case filed by the opposition party."

Lee said, "Energy transition is a key policy promoted by President Moon Jae-in and his administration, as well as a campaign promise during the presidential election," adding, "Judicial investigation into this matter can only be interpreted as the prosecution attempting to influence government policy."

He continued, "It reminds me of the time last year when, during the National Assembly confirmation hearings for the Minister of Justice, large-scale search and seizures were conducted on the ministerial candidate's family," reiterating his criticism.

Lee also pointed out, "The fact that the investigation was launched just two weeks after the opposition party filed a complaint with the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, and only one week after Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl visited the Daejeon office, raises suspicions."

He warned, "I do not want to believe that the opposition party and some political prosecutors are colluding to attack the government. However, if such intentions exist, the public will not tolerate it." He added, "For the honor of the majority of prosecutors who quietly fulfill their duties, the party will not overlook the behavior of some political prosecutors," urging, "The prosecution must immediately stop this dangerous and reckless rampage."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who resumed nationwide prosecutor's office tour meetings after eight months, is leaving the building after holding a meeting with local prosecutors at the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of the 29th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Jong-min, Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, labeled the prosecution's investigation as a "commissioned investigation," and criticized, "I appeal to prosecutors of the Republic of Korea: Do not condone the political acts and unconstitutional political interference of some political prosecutors. The 'Yoon Seok-youl prosecution' is going down the wrong path."

Kim stated, "If the prosecution is not a political investigation squad under the command of the People Power Party, this should not be happening. It is a clear commissioned investigation and abuse of authority." He added, "The prosecution's investigation into the policy decision regarding Wolseong Unit 1 demonstrates how severe the damage caused by this prosecutorial republic is, and how serious the situation has become. The prosecution's intervention in the president's and executive branch's policy implementation to determine legality is a direct challenge to the spirit of the Constitution."

He said, "It shakes the Constitution, the prosecution, and is a direct betrayal of popular sovereignty," adding, "The Yoon Seok-youl prosecution should stop shaking the Republic of Korea's prosecution. The Korean prosecution does not belong to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl."

He continued, "The proud people of the Republic of Korea are those who have blocked political military interference with bare hands," and "Political prosecutors' political interference will surely be judged by our people."

Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, the People Power Party filed a complaint with the prosecution against former Minister of MOTIE Baek Woon-gyu and others on charges including obstruction of audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, manipulation of economic feasibility evaluation related to the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1, violations of the Public Records Management Act, invalidity of official documents under criminal law, the Board of Audit and Inspection Act, abuse of authority, and obstruction of business.

Members of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Enterprises and Venture Businesses Committee from the People Power Party stated in a press release that "As revealed in the audit report by the Board of Audit and Inspection, which was released with great difficulty amid various obstructions and threats from the Moon Jae-in administration and the Democratic Party, the early shutdown and economic feasibility evaluation manipulation of Wolseong Unit 1 was a joint effort by the Blue House Secretariat, MOTIE, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP)." They criticized, "The early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1, which was proven safe and economically viable in just over two months, was forcibly carried out."

The Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 5 (Public Investigation Division, Chief Lee Sang-hyun) conducted search and seizure operations on the morning of the 5th at the government Sejong Complex's MOTIE office, KHNP headquarters in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the Korea Gas Corporation headquarters in Sinseo-dong, Daegu, dispatching prosecutors and investigators. The homes and offices of former MOTIE Minister Baek Woon-gyu, former Blue House Industrial Policy Secretary Chae Hee-bong (current president of Korea Gas Corporation), and former MOTIE Energy Resources Office Director Park Won-joo (former Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office) were also included in the search targets.

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