Cho Hee-yeon Side: "Public Corruption Investigation Office Ignores Public Demand... Will Request Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, who has been indicted by the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Division (PCC) on suspicion of special recruitment of dismissed teachers, has strongly opposed the PCC’s judgment, stating that it was wrong, and announced that he will request the convening of the Prosecutor’s Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee).

On the 3rd, Cho’s legal representative sent a statement to the press corps, saying, “The PCC’s investigation results ignored the public’s demand to recognize facts based on evidence collected without prejudice and to apply the law accordingly.”

Cho’s side pointed out, “The PCC judged that Superintendent Cho obstructed the exercise of rights of a public official responsible for special recruitment, but it failed to identify who the victim was,” adding, “They did not present what rights of the public official were obstructed or what evidence supports this.”

They continued, “The PCC judged that the procedure was carried out under the instruction of the secretary-general, who had no authority, causing the staff to perform duties they were not obliged to do,” but “Superintendent Cho denies giving such instructions and the PCC failed to specify what particular duties were unnecessary.”

Cho’s side cited the Supreme Court’s plenary session ruling on the ‘Cultural Blacklist Incident’ involving former Blue House Chief of Staff Kim Ki-chun to argue that abuse of authority charges cannot be recognized. The plenary session ruled that if a public official who received instructions violated necessary regulations in performing duties, the charge of making someone perform ‘unnecessary duties’ can be recognized.

Cho’s side stated, “The PCC judged that forcing a committee member who refused to attend the personnel committee to attend constituted making them perform unnecessary duties,” but “attending the personnel committee is an exercise of authority, not an unnecessary duty, and this contradicts the Supreme Court ruling.”

Furthermore, Cho’s side said, “We will specifically point out the PCC’s factual misinterpretations and misapplications of the law to the prosecution,” and “We will ensure that the prosecution thoroughly reviews the investigation records and related evidence to correct the erroneous judgment.”

They added, “Superintendent Cho and his lawyers were denied participation and the right to testify at the PCC’s prosecution deliberation committee,” emphasizing, “We plan to request the convening of the prosecution’s investigation deliberation committee to prove Superintendent Cho’s innocence.”

Meanwhile, earlier, the PCC’s prosecution division announced that it would request the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office to indict Superintendent Cho and his former secretary-general Mr. A on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights.

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