Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung Accused of 'Abuse of Authority'... Jury Trial Participation Decision Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Whether the trial of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted on charges of official assault after engaging in a physical altercation with Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon during the investigation of the 'alleged collusion between prosecutors and media,' will be conducted as a citizen trial will be decided next month.

On the 20th, the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Yang Cheol-han) held the first pretrial conference for Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong. This hearing was a pretrial conference to hear the positions of the parties involved and to coordinate the trial schedule, and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong did not attend.

The court stated, "The trial can proceed only if the intention regarding a citizen trial is confirmed," and decided to hold an additional pretrial conference to organize the positions. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong's previous attorney resigned on the 18th, and a new attorney appeared at this hearing, stating that they "have not been able to properly review the case records."

Earlier, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong is accused of assaulting Chief Prosecutor Han while searching Han's mobile phone in connection with the attempted coercion case, in which former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae allegedly threatened a whistleblower to reveal corruption involving political figures. The charge of official assault applies when prosecutors or others abuse their authority during the performance of their duties to assault or mistreat suspects.

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