LH Scandal "Deployment of Prosecutors" Unites Ruling and Opposition... Growing Support for 'Joint Prosecutorial Investigation'

Logic to exclude prosecutors from '6 Major Crimes' investigation loses strength
Ruling party also says, "Prosecutors should be dispatched to the Joint Special Investigation Headquarters"

Opposition: "Audit Board should step in after prosecution investigation... Minister Byeon Chang-heum must resign or be dismissed"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Lee Hyun-joo] As public distrust grows over the exclusion of the prosecution in the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) land speculation scandal, the ruling party's stance is also shifting. Until now, the ruling party argued that since the LH scandal does not fall under the 'six major crimes' subject to prosecution under the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police, it is appropriate for the Police National Investigation Headquarters to handle the case. However, as the issue has snowballed to the extent of influencing the April elections and criticisms regarding the investigative body continue to emerge, there appears to be increasing support for involving prosecutors in the investigation. Meanwhile, the opposition party is launching fierce attacks, demanding not only a prosecution investigation but also the resignation of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byun Chang-heum.

Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Il-young, who had long advocated for a prosecution investigation within the ruling party, said in a phone interview on the 10th, "Given the current atmosphere, it is highly likely that a joint investigation including the prosecution will proceed." Jeong emphasized, "In a situation where public anger is very high, the argument that the prosecution should not investigate because the LH scandal is not one of the six major crimes is nonsensical." He added that the issue should be resolved before the April 7 by-elections, saying, "Although the time is short, it is necessary to conclude this quickly rather than dragging it out past the election."

Saplings were planted on the 10th on a piece of land in Gwarim-dong, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do, where allegations of land speculation by some employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) in the Gwangmyeong and Siheung new towns have been raised.
Siheung - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee Sang-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former chairman of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Judicial Reform, also called for the dispatch of prosecutors to the LH scandal joint special investigation headquarters during the morning broadcast of YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning' on the same day, saying, "When catching a rat, it doesn't matter whether the cat is white or black."

Lee emphasized, "Excluding the prosecution is a very mechanical and blind logic," and added, "If necessary, it is right to select capable prosecutors and have them participate in the investigation in the form of dispatch to the joint investigation headquarters."

Regarding the claim that the LH scandal does not fall within the prosecution's investigative scope, he said, "The specific types of crimes are stipulated in the enforcement decree. That enforcement decree is not limited or exhaustive but temporary in nature," and explained, "According to the law, the current LH real estate speculation allegations are both corruption and economic crimes. Personally, I believe the prosecution also has the authority to conduct primary investigations."

Lawmaker Jin Sung-jun also stated at the previous day’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee full meeting, "The joint investigation team needs to receive dispatched prosecutors so that professional prosecutors can participate in the investigation," urging Minister Byun to "make a recommendation to the Prime Minister."

Within the opposition party, voices are calling not only for prosecution investigations but also for the Board of Audit and Inspection to immediately commence an audit, and for Minister Byun to resign or be dismissed.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, appeared on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' on the same day and pointed out, "Within the government, the Board of Audit and Inspection should immediately start an audit, and the investigation should not be conducted by the Police National Investigation Headquarters or the joint investigation headquarters, but the prosecution, which has experience and know-how in investigating real estate speculation, must be involved in some way."

Joo criticized, "It is not a matter of saying the prosecution has no investigative authority due to the adjustment of investigative powers between the prosecution and police; the prosecution must conduct the investigation," adding, "As President Moon Jae-in said, there is no such thing as the prosecution providing support for the investigation. It has been a week since the issue surfaced, but the belated start of the search and seizure has led to criticism that the investigation is merely for show and a failure." He further stated, "Minister Byun should resign or be dismissed, and a parliamentary audit is necessary."

People Power Party spokesperson Bae Jun-young criticized, "The prosecution reform tower proudly built by the administration has become the worst obstacle just before the war against speculation." He said, "Due to prosecution reform, the prosecution's investigative scope has been limited to six major crimes including corruption, economic crimes, public officials, elections, defense projects, and major disasters, especially for public officials at grade 4 or above and bribes over 30 million won," adding, "The argument is that the prosecution cannot handle speculation offenders this time, but does that mean those below grade 4 or bribes under 30 million won are already exempt?"

People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won harshly criticized on Facebook the same day, saying, "Talking about a full investigation without dismissing Minister Byun Chang-heum is deceiving the public."

Jang also condemned, "Why waste the nation's public assets by having the police investigate when the prosecution has abundant experience and capability in investigating speculation cases?" and demanded, "Immediately let the prosecution lead the investigation."

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