[2023 National Audit] Jeong Sunshin Appears in National Assembly After 6 Months: "Apologize to the Victimized Students... Feeling Sorry"

"Failed to Meet the Public's Expectations, Reflecting"

Attorney Jeong Soon-shin, who was appointed and then dismissed as head of the National Investigation Headquarters, apologized for the controversy surrounding the cover-up of his son's school violence.

On the 11th, Attorney Jeong appeared as a witness at the National Assembly Education Committee’s audit and responded to a question from Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding the controversy over covering up his son's school violence by saying, "I would like to take this opportunity to once again apologize to the victim student and the victim student's family," adding, "I also feel sorry to the public for even mentioning such matters. I apologize."

When asked, "What do you think is the reason the public is outraged?" he replied, "I guess it is because I failed to meet the public’s expectations." He also said, "I am reflecting deeply," in response to a question about whether he had any regrets or took time for self-reflection.

Regarding YouTuber Pyo Ye-rim, who exposed school violence and became known as the real-life protagonist of the drama The Glory and who tragically took her own life, he said, "I do not know the details exactly and only saw brief reports. Since I am on the side of the perpetrator student, it is very painful for me."

Attorney Jeong Sun-shin, who was dismissed from his position as head of the National Investigation Headquarters due to a controversy over his son's school violence, is responding during the audit of the Ministry of Education and the National Education Commission held by the National Assembly's Education Committee on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

When asked whether he had disclosed his son's school violence controversy during the Ministry of Justice’s personnel screening process at the time of his appointment as head of the National Investigation Headquarters, he said, "I checked 'No' in the question about whether there was an administrative lawsuit, so it was reported, and the police decided there was no charge," but added, "If I had been more careful, I regret not having been a bit more proactive in disclosing it."

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho also responded to Kang’s question about whether he felt some responsibility regarding Attorney Jeong’s allegations by saying, "I feel responsible for many recent issues such as school violence and the decline of teachers’ authority."

Earlier, Attorney Jeong was appointed head of the National Investigation Headquarters in February this year but was dismissed due to his son’s school violence issue. The opposition parties held hearings in March and April, but they were canceled because Attorney Jeong did not attend, citing panic disorder.

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