Prosecutors Transfer Gwak Sang-do Case to Public Corruption Investigation Office Over Defamation of President Moon's Family

Defamation Charges Are Not Included in the Scope of Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] The case in which a civic group filed a defamation complaint against People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do regarding President Moon Jae-in's family has been transferred from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) to the prosecution.

According to the legal community on the 15th, the PCC decided on the 10th to simply transfer the case, in which the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasehaeng) filed a defamation complaint against lawmaker Kwak in February, to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Under the PCC Act, defamation charges are not crimes involving high-ranking officials that the PCC can investigate. Accordingly, the PCC decided to transfer the case to the prosecution, which is capable of investigating this matter, and notified Sasehaeng of the handling results.

At the time, lawmaker Kwak raised suspicions of preferential receipt of 'COVID-19 damage art support funds' by President Moon's son, Jun-yong. In response, Sasehaeng submitted a complaint to the PCC, stating that lawmaker Kwak not only investigated the private lives of Jun-yong but also all members of President Moon's family, distorting objective facts and committing defamation close to character assassination.

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