People Power Party's Pre-Election Exposed Up to 'Na Kyung-won Solicitation Allegation'... Opposition Demands "Collective Prosecution Investigation"

Revelation at CBS Radio Party Leader Candidate Debate

During the People Power Party leadership candidate debate, candidate Na Kyung-won was exposed for allegedly requesting candidate Han Dong-hoon (then Minister of Justice) to cancel the prosecution related to the Fast-Track case. The opposition parties called for investigations into the leadership candidates by the prosecution or the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

On the 17th, during the People Power Party leadership debate held on CBS Radio, candidate Han revealed that when he was questioned by candidate Na about issues during his tenure as Minister of Justice, he said, "Candidate Na asked me to cancel the prosecution in her Fast-Track case, didn’t she?" and added, "I told her that I could not do that."

Candidate Na responded by saying, "It was not about a specific case," and explained, "It was a matter of whether to uphold our constitution and the rule of law or not." She continued, "I believe it is inappropriate for the Minister of Justice to abuse the authority to direct investigations of specific cases, but it is natural to set guidelines on what is important, for example, that we must resolve drug-related cases."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The opposition parties launched a united offensive regarding the fact that candidate Na’s request to cancel the prosecution was confirmed during the conversation with candidate Han.

Kim Bo-hyeop, spokesperson for the Innovation Party for Justice, stated, "As Han Dong-hoon, Won Hee-ryong, and Na Kyung-won attack each other, they are exposing the true face of the prosecutorial dictatorship regime," adding, "The operation of President Yoon Seok-youl’s spouse Kim Gun-hee’s ‘comment team’ and candidate Han Dong-hoon’s ‘public opinion formation team’ during his time as Minister of Justice will soon be subjects of special prosecutor investigations. Today, it was also revealed that candidate Na, who was indicted for violating the National Assembly Advancement Act, requested ‘prosecution cancellation.’"

Spokesperson Kim referred to the fact that candidate Na, indicted for the 2019 case, has yet to receive a first trial verdict as of 2024, saying, "Just as candidate Na, who was a judge, allegedly requested former Minister of Justice Han to drop the prosecution, it should also be investigated whether she requested the court to delay the trial."

Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, commented, "Do the Yoon Seok-youl administration and People Power Party members consider investigation or prosecution their rights and make requests based on personal connections? Is this the law and principle President Yoon talked about?" He added, "Candidate Na should stop invoking the constitution and rule of law of the Republic of Korea and, as a former judge and member of the National Assembly, clarify her position on the prosecution cancellation request she made and apologize sincerely to the public." He continued, "From party interference, illegal comment team allegations, and violent incidents to now criminal case requests, the People Power Party should not just hold elections but all candidates should join hands and appear before the prosecution for investigation."