Park Kyuntaek on 'Daejang-dong Appeal Withdrawal': "A Case That Cannot Be Overturned Even If Appealed"

Park Kyuntaek: "The acquittal is obvious"
"Noh Manseok resigning due to junior prosecutors' protests? Not the right attitude"
People Power Party condemns decision not to appeal... "A special prosecutor is needed"

Park Kyuntaek, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, commented on the prosecution's decision not to appeal the 'Daejang-dong trial,' stating, "Even if an appeal were filed, it is a case that cannot be overturned."

On November 12, during an appearance on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Park said, "If you think about it, the acquittal is just too obvious," and added, "In this case, the prosecutor should reflect on having filed an improper indictment, as well as on having requested forfeiture for something that was not subject to forfeiture."

He continued, "I will not comment separately on the parts where a guilty verdict was reached in the first trial," and added, "I feel that the court made considerable efforts to respect the prosecution's position."

Kyun-Taek Park, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Office of Kyun-Taek Park

Park explained, "The Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes applies only when the amount of damage exceeds a certain threshold," and said, "If the amount is not specified, how can the act apply? Therefore, even if an appeal were filed, a guilty verdict could only be reached for ordinary breach of trust, not for aggravated breach of trust under the act."

He also criticized, "The fact that the Seopangyo Tunnel would be built was already made public a year earlier through Seongnam City's urban master plan," and added, "It was already disclosed to Seongnam citizens, so how could this be a disclosure of official secrets?" He further pointed out, "Since it is not an official secret, the claim that someone benefited by using it does not logically hold."

Regarding the controversy over the position of Acting Prosecutor General Noh Manseok (Deputy Prosecutor General at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office), Park said, "Regardless of his personal motives, I believe he ultimately made the right decision, but saying he will resign because his juniors are protesting is not the proper attitude for a public official." He added, "I expect that Acting Prosecutor General Noh will not make an irresponsible decision."

Meanwhile, more than 40 members of the People Power Party held a protest rally in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong on the morning of the previous day (November 11), condemning the prosecution's decision to forgo an appeal in the Daejang-dong case, and called for Noh's resignation, as well as a parliamentary investigation and a special prosecutor to uncover the truth.

At the rally, People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk said, "The largest development corruption crime since the founding of Korea has resulted in some acquittals, yet the prosecution has decided not to appeal," and added, "As Kim Byungki, the Democratic Party floor leader, also said, let's conduct a parliamentary investigation and appoint a special prosecutor." He further argued, "The court should immediately resume the trial of President Lee Jaemyung, as that is the only way to save the Republic of Korea."

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