Hataekyung: "'Exonerated Han Donghoon Exiled, Prosecuted Lee Seongyun Thriving'... Is This Moon-style Fairness?"

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on Seoul's real estate policy at the National Assembly Communication Office on March 8. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, strongly criticized, saying, "Is it President Moon Jae-in's version of fairness that Han Dong-hoon, who was cleared of charges, is exiled, while Lee Seong-yoon, who was indicted, is living comfortably in Seoul?"

On the 12th, Ha posted on his Facebook, "President Moon should order the suspension of Prosecutor Lee, who has been brought to trial, and immediately recall Prosecutor Han, who was found innocent," adding, "Only then can the distorted fairness be corrected and the prosecution reform, which has gone astray, be properly realized."

He explained, "The prosecution is indicting Prosecutor Lee today," and added, "This is based on the recommendation of the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee, which judged there is a serious possibility of illegal conduct. Article 73, Paragraph 3 of the National Public Officials Act states, 'A person indicted for a criminal case may be denied their position.'"

He pointed out, "If Prosecutor Lee remains in his position, distrust and unfairness toward the entire judicial system cannot be avoided."

He further urged, "On the other hand, Prosecutor Han, who was unjustly accused and effectively exiled, should be ordered to return so he can resume his original role."

Ha criticized, "During the controversy over collusion between the prosecution and the media, Prosecutor Han was suspended and demoted by Minister Choo despite no evidence, which was a clear retaliation and exile in response to the investigation of Cho Kuk."

He claimed, "President Moon turned a blind eye and neglected this. Even now, President Moon must correct this mistake."

Meanwhile, on the 12th, Prosecutor Lee was instead indicted without detention on charges of exerting undue influence over the 2019 investigation by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch into former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui's illegal travel ban. Prosecutor Lee took a leave of absence that day and did not go to work.

On the 11th, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye responded to reporters' questions about the suspension of Prosecutor Lee by saying, "Being indicted and tried is a separate process from suspension or disciplinary action."

Previously, in June last year, then Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae suspended Prosecutor Han from duty and demoted him to a research fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute after his name appeared in the Channel A case recordings. Subsequently, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team repeatedly reported that Prosecutor Han should be cleared, but Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has yet to close the case.

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