Song Kyung-ho: “Parliamentary Hearing Has Turned Into a ‘Play’... Undermining the Judicial System”

Former Seoul Central District Chief Prosecutor Song Kyung-ho Delivers Sharp Critique at Hearing
“Shifted from Uncovering Truth to Staging Scenes”
“Labeling as Fabricated Indictment Risks Infringing on Judiciary’s Domain”

Song Kyung-ho, former Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, sharply criticized the National Assembly’s special hearing on the ongoing parliamentary investigation led by the Democratic Party of Korea, stating, “This is not a venue for seeking substantive truth but rather one being run like a pre-scripted play.”

In a statement released to the press on April 22, Song said, “A hearing is originally a procedure for gathering the basis for judgment by listening to testimony. However, recent hearings have been run in a way that emphasizes only the stories they want to hear and blocks testimony that does not fit their narrative.”

He pointed out, “Instead of listening to witnesses, committee members keep making unilateral assertions, and this often devolves into shouting and pressure tactics. This approach is not about uncovering the truth, but rather about staging specific scenes.”

Regarding the use of the term “fabricated indictment” in reference to ongoing cases, Song stated, “A parliamentary investigation is legally limited and should not be used for the purpose of intervening in trials or investigations. Imposing a definitive frame on unresolved matters risks infringing upon the judiciary’s exclusive domain.”

Song also rejected claims of legitimacy based on the National Assembly’s approval, stating, “Procedural legitimacy and substantive legitimacy are separate issues. Mere formal procedures cannot justify unconstitutional or illegal content.”

He also addressed the issue of trust in the criminal justice system: “All search and seizure operations in the Republic of Korea are conducted under court warrants, and investigations take place under mutual oversight among a large number of personnel. In such a system, claims that there could be an organized ‘fabricated indictment’ are not practically persuasive.”

Regarding the interpretation of evidence, he noted, “Some argue that the names of key individuals do not appear in certain transcripts, but this is simply selective citation of portions of the full record. If periods without records or the overall context are ignored, the facts may be distorted.”

He also raised concerns about the composition and operation of the parliamentary investigation’s special committee, stating, “The very name of the committee includes a predetermined conclusion, and some members have a vested interest in the case, which threatens objectivity and neutrality.”

Song criticized the pressure on witnesses during the hearing process as well: “Mentioning perjury penalties or forcing certain statements is closer to coercion than to investigation, and this could harm procedural fairness.” He added, “If such trends persist, public officials conducting legitimate investigations may become intimidated, and public trust in the entire judicial system may be undermined. Ultimately, the public will bear the consequences.”

Additionally, he emphasized, “The right against self-incrimination for witnesses is a constitutional guarantee, and any derision or coercion in this regard could result in a setback for human rights.” Song reiterated, “A hearing should not be a process of prearranging scenes for a predetermined conclusion, but a procedure for listening to the facts. If the system fails to restore its intended function, this could fuel distrust in the entire judicial system.”

Previously, lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea had claimed that the Daejang-dong investigation team at the time designated President Lee Jae-myung, who had not been booked, as a “suspect” in the investigation and indictment process, arguing that the case had been fabricated. On April 16, Song appeared as a witness in the parliamentary investigation related to the Daejang-dong case.

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