Ha Tae-kyung: "Pro- Moon Jae-in faction has become a new deep-rooted evil worse than those they labeled as corrupt"

"Prosecutorial reform for investigations into pro-Moon, judicial reform for guilty verdicts against pro-Moon"
"Ultimately, the essence is a group denying the rule of law," criticism pours in

Ha Tae-kyung, People Power Party member / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the ruling party, which opposed the 4-year prison sentence given to Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University in the first trial, saying, "They have become a new deep-rooted evil several times worse than the people they labeled as deep-rooted evils."

On the 24th, Ha wrote on his Facebook, "They resist 'pro-Moon investigations' with prosecutorial reform and oppose 'pro-Moon guilty verdicts' with judicial reform, acting as forces denying the rule of law," he said.

He continued, "As soon as the guilty verdict for Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim came out, the pro-Moon faction is now calling for judicial reform," and pointed out, "They want to run the Republic of Korea not by the principle of the rule of law but by 'pro-Moon innocent, anti-Moon guilty.'

He then claimed, "Ultimately, the essence of the pro-Moon faction is a group that denies the rule of law."

Ha said, "The rule of law is the only hope and pillar that protects the chaotic Republic of Korea," adding, "The downfall of the Park Geun-hye administration was the result of ignoring the rule of law, but now the pro-Moon faction is openly advocating for an even greater destruction of the rule of law."

Professor Jeong, who was indicted on a total of 15 charges including admission fraud involving her children and suspicions of private equity fund investments, was sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined 50 million won on the 23rd, and was taken into custody in court. The court also imposed a confiscation order of 140 million won on Professor Jeong.

Jung Kyung-shim, wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who has been indicted on charges including admission bribery for her children and suspicions of private equity fund investments, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held on the afternoon of the 23rd at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

The court recognized all charges related to Professor Jeong's admission fraud. The court explained, "All certificates, including the experiential activities at Dankook University Medical Science Research Institute, were false," and "The defendant actively participated in submitting self-introduction letters and certificates of commendation to medical graduate schools, and all charges related to admission fraud are guilty." Some charges related to private equity fund investment and evidence destruction were acquitted.

Regarding this ruling, voices of opposition arose from the ruling party, claiming that "the court's decision is too harsh." Shin Young-dae, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a statement that day, "The court's ruling is so harsh that it is bewildering," and "We hope the truth will be properly revealed in the remaining trial process."

Kim Nam-guk, a member of the same party and author of the 'Cho Kuk White Paper,' wrote on Facebook that day, "My chest feels tight and I can't breathe," expressing his frustration. "Still, I will firmly walk the thorny path. I will walk the road while getting rained on and hit by stones," he shared his feelings.

Kim Yong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker who served on the Ministry of Justice's Legal and Prosecutorial Reform Committee, pointed out on Facebook, "It seems the problems with the prosecution's indictment are only visible to the public," adding, "The court should control illegal investigations and indictments, but today it seems to have abandoned that role."

He further claimed, "What Yoon Seok-yeol aimed for through judicial surveillance was exactly this," and insisted, "Yoon Seok-yeol and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's crimes must be punished."

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