Police Decline to Prosecute Case Regarding President Yoon's Statement "I Will Investigate Deep-rooted Evils"

Allegations of Violating the Public Official Election Act

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police have decided not to prosecute in the case where President Yoon Seok-yeol was reported by a civic group for his statement during his candidacy that he would "investigate the clearing out of deep-rooted evils."

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 23rd that President Yoon, who was reported in early July for allegedly spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act, was cleared of charges and not prosecuted.

On February 7, President Yoon said in an interview with a media outlet, in response to the question, "Will you investigate the clearing out of deep-rooted evils of the previous administration if you come to power?" "Yes, I will. (The investigation) must be done."

Subsequently, former President Moon Jae-in stated on the 10th of the same month, "I strongly express anger and demand an apology for baselessly labeling the current government as a target of deep-rooted evil investigations and illegal acts."

In response, the civic group Deep-rooted Evil Clearance National Participation Solidarity filed a complaint with the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters in February against then President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, claiming that "he distorted facts and publicly announced false information as if the Moon Jae-in administration was a government involved in corruption and illegal acts," and argued that "if he was aware of deep-rooted evils, corruption, and illegal acts while serving as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Prosecutor General under the Moon administration but did not investigate, it constitutes a serious dereliction of duty and abuse of authority as the head of an investigative agency."

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