Prosecutors Investigate Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for 'Presidential Pledge Development Suspicion'... Expansion to Other Ministries

Investigation Team Sends Official Letters to Administrative Departments Confirming 'Pledge Data Provision'

Jeong Young-ae, former Minister of Gender Equality and Family./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution investigating the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s alleged involvement in developing the Democratic Party of Korea’s presidential election pledges is also examining whether similar cases occurred in other government ministries.

According to the legal community on the 15th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office sent official letters to various administrative ministries last month requesting them to "identify and submit whether they have been asked by a National Assembly professional committee member or party official affiliated with a specific political party to provide pledge materials related to the 20th presidential election."

The prosecution stated that this request was part of cooperation in investigating the allegations of election interference by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family officials, which were reported by the National Election Commission. However, it is reported that not all ministries received such letters.

The Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Kyung-geun) is investigating allegations that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family received requests from the Democratic Party of Korea during the last presidential election to provide materials for use in pledges and subsequently prepared and delivered policy drafts.

Earlier, in November last year, the National Election Commission filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office against former Vice Minister Kim Kyung-sun and a public official A on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. Official A is accused of receiving requests from a Democratic Party policy research committee member (a specialist at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family) for materials to be used in the presidential election pledges and requesting the drafting of policy pledge drafts from various departments within the ministry.

Former Vice Minister Kim was also reported together with Official A on charges of overseeing related work, including presiding over meetings on the compiled policy pledges. The prosecution launched a full-scale investigation by conducting a search and seizure of the Democratic Party’s policy research office just one week after receiving the complaint. Recently, former Minister Jeong Young-ae and former Vice Minister Kim were summoned and questioned as suspects.

The investigation team is reportedly examining whether similar issues occurred not only in the 20th presidential election mentioned in the complaint but also in the 20th and 21st general elections.

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