Choi Dae-jip Criticizes Prosecution in First Trial... "Prosecutorial Persecution for Criticizing Government"

Choi Dae-jip, president of the Korean Medical Association, who was indicted on charges of defamation related to allegations of military service corruption involving the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, is attending the first trial session of the first instance held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 10th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Choi Daejip, president of the Korean Medical Association (49), who was indicted on defamation charges for raising suspicions of military service corruption involving Park Jushin, son of the late former Seoul Mayor Park Wonsoon, argued at the first trial that “there is a procedural defect in this criminal prosecution.”

At the first hearing for President Choi held on the morning of the 10th under the presiding of Judge Lee Gwangyeol of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23, the defense attorney stated, “The prosecution indicted President Choi with the intent to suppress his critical opinions against government policies.”

Previously, in 2015, President Choi posted an article in a certain daily newspaper alleging that “the X-rays submitted by Mr. Park when he enlisted in the Air Force in 2011 and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) photos submitted for re-examination were from different individuals,” suggesting that false documents were submitted to avoid active duty, thereby damaging Mr. Park’s reputation. The defense argued, “The prosecution did not impose a travel ban on Mr. Park and neglected the investigation for five years after the 2015 accusation, instead filing charges against President Choi, who was in conflict with government policies.”

The defense also pointed out that the prosecution’s investigation records do not contain any inquiry about whether Mr. Park and others wished to punish President Choi. They criticized the prosecution for lacking the necessary conditions for indictment and for failing to explicitly ask the victim’s intention, despite the fact that this is a quasi-offense that cannot be punished without the victim’s consent.

On the day, President Choi stated, “As a clinical doctor with 20 years of extensive medical experience, I gathered and presented medical opinions from dozens of doctors related to Mr. Park’s military service suspicions,” adding, “The prosecution keeps claiming these are false facts, but they must present medical evidence to prove that.” He further urged, “Mr. Park should be publicly physically examined to obtain medical evidence to prove whether the opinions are true or false, factual or fabricated.”

The defense argued, “A privileged class has been formed in the Republic of Korea, and the state is trying to punish citizens who raise suspicions about this privileged class and their offspring, rather than investigating the suspicions themselves,” adding, “If Mr. Park undergoes an X-ray at any time, the truth will come out. It is also possible to conduct a physical examination through international judicial cooperation in the United States or the United Kingdom.” They continued, “We will prove contradictory evidence from the side of the late Mayor Park during the trial,” and questioned, “Are the people pigs or cockroaches? If the judiciary cannot be trusted, where can human rights be appealed?”

President Choi was previously indicted for defaming the late Mayor Park by sharing false information on Facebook that the former mayor habitually abused his spouse Kang Nanhui, separated from her, and cohabited with a mistress through information and communication networks.

President Choi’s side admitted to the facts regarding this charge but argued, “The purpose was to appeal to the late Mayor Park for cooperation in truth-finding, not to defame.”

On this day, President Choi’s side applied to call Kang, the late Mayor Park’s wife, Yang Seungo, head of the Southeast Regional Radiation Medical Center who is currently on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act by continuously raising suspicions of military service corruption involving Mr. Park, and dentist Kim Woohyun as witnesses. The court decided to determine whether to accept the witnesses after hearing opinions from the prosecution and President Choi’s side.

The next hearing is scheduled for the morning of the 14th of next month.

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