"Excluding Breach of Trust in Yoo Dong-gyu's Indictment Is a Disgrace to History"…People Power Party Visits Supreme Prosecutors' Office to Protest

Call for Special Prosecutor to Uncover Truth
Sim Sang-jung Also Says "Lee Must Accept Special Prosecutor"
Democratic Party Launches Offensive on Busan Savings Bank

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the National Assembly's audit countermeasure meeting held on the 22nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Jinyoung Jeon] The prosecution’s decision to indict former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu without including charges of breach of trust in connection with the Daejang-dong development preferential treatment allegations has revealed a stark contrast in reactions between the ruling and opposition parties. The People Power Party strongly opposed the prosecution, accusing it of a sloppy indictment aimed at saving Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate. Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the National Assembly audit countermeasures meeting on the 22nd, “They have thrown away the minimum conscience and sense of duty,” adding, “The current prosecution will remain the greatest shame in the history of the Republic of Korea.” On the same morning, the People Power Party visited the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in protest.

The People Power Party, expressing distrust in the prosecution’s investigation, is increasing calls for the introduction of a special prosecutor to uncover the truth. Members of the People Power Party on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a press conference that day, urging, “Completely strip the investigative authority from the politically motivated prosecutors armed with pro-government bias and appoint a special prosecutor to reveal the true mastermind behind the Daejang-dong gate.” Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party’s presidential candidate, also appeared on the radio that day, stating that Lee should accept a special prosecutor as a matter of responsibility, saying, “The Justice Party has been cautious about special prosecutors until now because we expected thorough and fair investigations by the prosecution, but now the prosecution’s sloppy and delayed investigation is leading the prosecution itself to call for a special prosecutor.” The People Power Party is also preparing to propose the ‘Lee Jae-myung Corruption Prevention Special Act.’

On the other hand, the Democratic Party leadership made no mention of the indictment of former Director Yoo at any official event that day. Instead, they launched an offensive targeting former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol over the ‘Busan Savings Bank sloppy investigation.’ Song Young-gil, the party leader, pointed out at the morning supreme council meeting, “Only Mr. Cho, who arranged loans exceeding 110 billion won from Busan Savings Bank, was excluded from the investigation. At that time, his close associate was Yoon Seok-yeol, head of the Central Investigation Department’s second division.” Floor leader Yoon Ho-jung also said, “Former Prosecutor General Yoon is suspected of conducting a sloppy investigation into the 115.5 billion won loan case of Busan Savings Bank,” adding, “Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo should risk his position and clarify the whole truth through a reinvestigation.” In a radio interview that day, Representative Noh Woong-rae responded to criticism that excluding breach of trust charges was a ‘lenient investigation’ by saying, “It is an excessive interpretation to think that the Moon Jae-in administration and the ruling party are colluding with the prosecution.” He also emphasized regarding the People Power Party’s call for a special prosecutor, “There is an order to things. We need to observe the police and prosecution investigations first.”

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