Education Committee Issues 'Accompaniment Request' for Jeong Sunshin and 3 Others Who Were Absent

14th 'Jeong Sunshin Hearing', Wife and Son Also Absent
Committee Chair Yoo Ki-hong: "No Evidence, Unacceptable"
People Power Party No-Show... "Humiliating and Prejudged Hearing"

On the 14th, the National Assembly Education Committee issued a summons for accompaniment to attorney Jeong Sun-shin, who was absent from the 'Jeong Sun-shin Hearing,' along with his wife and son, totaling three people.

Jeong, who was appointed as the head of the National Investigation Headquarters but fell from grace due to his son's school violence issue, was absent again at this hearing citing 'panic disorder,' following his absence at the hearing on the 31st of last month. Jeong's wife and son, who were additionally requested by the National Assembly to appear as witnesses, also submitted absence statements citing 'mental and physical weakness' and did not attend the hearing that day. Democratic Party members of the Education Committee criticized this as "an insult to the National Assembly and the people," while members of the People Power Party boycotted the hearing, calling it a "biased hearing."

Yoo Ki-hong, Chairman of the National Assembly Education Committee, is delivering a request for accompaniment of an absent witness to a National Assembly official at the hearing held on the 14th at the National Assembly titled "Hearing for the Investigation of School Violence Involving Jeong Soon-shin's Children and Establishment of Measures to Prevent Recurrence." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On that day, Yoo Ki-hong, chairman of the National Assembly Education Committee, delivered the summons for accompaniment to the National Assembly administrative officer for attorney Jeong Sun-shin, his wife, and son before the formal hearing began.

Chairman Yoo pointed out, "Attorney Jeong has damaged the authority of the National Assembly by absenting himself for the second time following the previous hearing," adding, "It is unacceptable that someone who accepted the position of head of the National Investigation Headquarters has been absent twice citing panic disorder."

Regarding the absence of Jeong's wife and son, who were selected as witnesses on the 31st of last month, he said, "They submitted absence statements citing 'mental and physical weakness due to extreme stress,' but did not provide any supporting evidence related to this," emphasizing, "As chairman, I express deep regret and will strictly investigate this according to relevant laws and regulations."

Chairman Yoo stated while issuing the summons for accompaniment, "I am delivering the summons so that the three can appear even before the hearing ends today." He elaborated, "There is no clear regulation for issuing a summons for accompaniment, so this is not a summons order due to institutional shortcomings, but it is delivered as a strong urging for their attendance today through the summons for accompaniment."

The hearing that day became a half-hearted hearing with only Democratic Party members attending.

On the 14th, Attorney Jeong Sun-shin was absent from the hearing held by the National Assembly Education Committee to investigate the truth about school violence involving Jeong Sun-shin's children and to establish measures against school violence. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Chairman Yoo said, "During the consultation between the ruling and opposition party floor leaders, the ruling party said they would discuss with the People Power Party floor leader, but I think today's absence was decided at the party level," adding, "Some People Power Party members showed strong willingness to attend the hearing, but I regret that they did not attend due to the party's position, regardless of their personal intentions."

While the hearing was in progress, People Power Party members of the National Assembly Education Committee held a joint press conference criticizing the Democratic Party-led 'Jeong Sun-shin Hearing.'

In their statement, they pointed out, "The Democratic Party's purpose is not to eradicate school violence and establish countermeasures, but to call Jeong Sun-shin and his family to disgrace them, and since the answer is already decided, it is a 'pre-decided answer' hearing where you just have to answer."

They continued, "Jeong Sun-shin's response to his son's school violence was wrong," but added, "The son was forcibly transferred, the lawsuit was lost, and Jeong Sun-shin was removed from public office. The Jeong family is paying a harsh price amid media and social criticism."

Furthermore, they said, "The task given to the political world through this incident is to find the causes of the increase in school violence and prepare effective countermeasures. However, judging by the Democratic Party's attitude, it seems they are more interested in politically exploiting the incident," and criticized, "People Power Party Education Committee members will not attend today's hearing. It is a very biased hearing with all procedures and witness selections clearly predictable."

They emphasized, "Instead, in the afternoon, we will hold a 'Policy Meeting to Eradicate School Violence' to listen to the voices of families of school violence victims and frontline education sites, and also review whether there are any additional points to supplement the government's school violence eradication measures announced two days ago."

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