Park Chandae "Police Announce Investigation of Chae Sangbyeong Confidentially... Only Increasing Need for Special Prosecutor"

Park Chan-dae, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out the need for a special prosecutor, expressing distrust in the police's decision to announce the investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong death case privately.

Park Chan-dae, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 8th, Acting Leader Park said, "What exactly are the police trying to hide by announcing the investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong death case privately?" He added, "If the investigation was conducted transparently and fairly, there would be no reason to hide anything." Furthermore, he stated, "This attitude of the police only breeds distrust in the investigation results and increases the necessity for a special prosecutor. The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act, which passed through the National Assembly, has completely lost any grounds for rejection. If a veto is exercised, the public will be convinced that President Yoon Seok-yeol is the culprit."

Jung Cheong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said, "According to media reports, a decision of no indictment was made regarding former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun, and it is said to be a legal judgment based on the analysis of testimonies from related parties, expert consultations, and the final results of the investigation review committee." He added, "I am deeply concerned whether the public can accept the police's announcement of the investigation." He continued, "Why does the Yoon Seok-yeol administration continue to take such a risky action that could jeopardize the regime just to save a Marine Corps division commander? It remains a mystery what kind of Pandora's box this is that they are taking such reckless measures."

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency will announce the investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong death case at 2 p.m. on the same day. The investigation targets nine military personnel, including former Division Commander Lim, who is accused of professional negligence resulting in death. It is known that the police decided not to indict former Commander Lim through an investigation review committee composed of external experts. However, the police decided not to disclose the members of the investigation review committee, the specific deliberation contents, or the voting results.

Meanwhile, Acting Leader Park evaluated the personnel nominated by President Yoon as "disheartening." Park said, "Kang Min-su, nominated as the head of the National Tax Service Seoul Regional Office, disparaged the May 18 Democratic Uprising as the Gwangju Incident and glorified the December 12 military coup as a righteous act," adding, "It is questionable whether someone with such a biased historical perspective can work in a balanced manner." He also criticized Lee Jin-seok, the nominee for the new chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, saying, "He is a far-right figure who sympathized with conspiracy theories about the Itaewon tragedy and posts insulting the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising," and asked, "Is he planning to turn public broadcasting into a far-right YouTube channel?"

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