Presidential Office to Democratic Party on 'Lee Jong-seop Special Prosecutor Act': "Excessive Use of Special Prosecutors Is Counterproductive"

Presidential Office: "Opposition, unable to trust prosecution, created the Corruption Investigation Office, and now proposing a special prosecutor?"

The Presidential Office criticized the Democratic Party of Korea, which proposed a special prosecutor law related to Ambassador Lee Jong-seop to Australia, who is under investigation by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) over allegations of external pressure in the investigation of Marine Corps Corporal Chaesangbyeong's death, saying, "Repeatedly abusing special prosecutors just because you do not get the answers you want is wasteful in many ways."

A Presidential Office official said this on the afternoon of the 12th at the Yongsan Presidential Office when a reporter mentioned, "The opposition party submitted a special prosecutor law today regarding Ambassador Lee, who left the country during the PCC investigation, and they say they will impeach the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice."

The official pointed out, "The PCC is currently conducting the investigation. I understand the investigation started in September last year, but until March this year, there was no mention of summoning, and only a few days ago, the ambassador was questioned for four hours and then left the country."

He continued, "There was no request to come for questioning during that time, and the travel ban was extended several times, so there was time. However, the travel ban was continuously extended without ever summoning him," adding, "They could have summoned and thoroughly questioned him over six months but did not. The opposition party's claim that the ambassador left the country to obstruct the investigation does not make sense."

He especially referred to the Democratic Party's forceful passage of the PCC Act in 2020, citing distrust in the prosecution, and said, "Now, it seems very ironic to say, 'We don't trust the PCC, so let's have a special prosecutor.'"

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop is responding to lawmakers' questions during the government questioning session at the National Assembly plenary meeting on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Earlier, Park Ju-min, the Democratic Party's chief floor deputy, and other lawmakers submitted the Lee Jong-seop special prosecutor law at 9:40 a.m. to the National Assembly's main building legislative affairs office. The law calls for investigations into Ambassador Lee, the Presidential Office suspected of obstructing the investigation, and related ministries such as the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additionally, Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, stated at the party's floor strategy meeting that day, "We will hold relevant standing committee meetings to thoroughly investigate the acts undermining national dignity, and along with the special prosecutor law, we will file charges against all related parties, including Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol and Justice Minister Park Seong-jae, and actively consider impeaching the ministers."

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