Opposition, Gwak Sang-do Acquitted: "Prosecution's Selective Investigation Tyranny" Full-Scale Offensive

Party Leadership Launches Full Prosecutor Offensive at Today's Supreme Council
Criticizes Kwak Sang-do's First Trial Verdict and Emphasizes Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor
"Nursing Act to Be Processed in March National Assembly"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea launched a full-scale offensive against the prosecution on the 10th regarding Lee Jae-myung, the party leader's third appearance before the prosecution. They fiercely criticized the prosecution's investigation of Lee, arguing it was unfair compared to the first trial acquittal of former People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, who was involved in the 'Daejang-dong 5 billion Club.'

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the prosecution's selective and sloppy investigation, which led to the court's protective ruling, during the party's Supreme Council meeting that day regarding Kwak Sang-do's first trial acquittal.

He pointed out, "In another voice file reported yesterday, former lawmaker Kwak demanded money through his son from Kim Man-bae and discussed scenarios such as bonus payments while worrying about legal violations. Vivid evidence was revealed," adding, "Although such materials were admitted as evidence in court, they were not recognized as proof of guilt."

He also criticized, "A voice file in which Kim mentioned the real names of the 5 billion Club was released to the media. Former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il, former special prosecutor Park Young-soo, former Blue House civil affairs chief Choi Jae-kyung, former Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam, and others are prosecutors and judges who are obviously powerful enough to control the country," adding, "However, except for former lawmaker Kwak, investigations into the other five have practically been halted."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, he mentioned Lee's third appearance before the prosecution that morning. Floor leader Park said, "While neglecting the investigation of the 5 billion Club, the prosecution is all-in on investigating Lee," and warned, "The prosecution's unreasonable tyranny, trying to fabricate crimes by abusing public authority, will surely pay a price."

On the same day, the Supreme Council members unanimously criticized the ruling on former lawmaker Kwak and pointed out the unfairness of the investigation into Lee. Supreme Council member Jung Cheong-rae said, "Former prosecutor Kim Hak-ui was acquitted, and former prosecutor Kwak Sang-do was acquitted. If your father is not a former prosecutor, even a 6 million won scholarship is guilty, but if your father is a former prosecutor, a 5 billion won retirement bonus is acquitted," adding, "Article 86 and 87 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea should be amended to permanently prohibit the appointment of malicious prosecutors."

He also emphasized, "While the opposition party leader complies with every summons from the prosecution, Kim Gun-hee, the wife of the president, was summoned during the last presidential election over the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations but has so far ignored it," stressing, "The conclusion is a special prosecutor."

Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae also said, "The prosecution should stop summonses for humiliation, elimination of political opponents, and fabricated investigations," adding, "The people the prosecution should summon and investigate are not Lee but Mrs. Kim, Cheon Gong, Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo, and the members of the 5 billion Club."

Supreme Council member Seo Young-kyo mentioned the first trial sentencing of former Deutsche Motors chairman Kwon Oh-soo, who is accused of stock manipulation, scheduled for that day, emphasizing the need for a special prosecutor to thoroughly investigate whether there was pressure from Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl during his tenure, why prosecutors hesitated and stalled during the investigation, and whether there was pressure from higher-ups.

Meanwhile, floor leader Park pledged regarding the direct referral of seven bills pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, including the Nursing Act, to the plenary session at the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee meeting the previous day, saying, "The Nursing Act has been held up for 269 days, the Elderly Welfare Act and the Support for Disabled Children Welfare Act for 283 days, the Health Insurance Act for over a year at 442 days, the Infectious Disease Prevention Act for 604 days, and the Medical Service Act for 720 days in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee," adding, "According to the National Assembly Act, these will be responsibly handled at the March plenary session after 30 days have passed."

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