Ruling Party: "Democratic Party Should Apologize for Criminal Law System Confusion" vs Opposition: "Yoon's Indictment Denial and Election Preparation, Pathetic"
by Lee Kimin
Published 27 Jan.2025 13:32(KST)
Indicted Without Investigation of Yoon
Shin Dongwook: "Due to Moon Jae-in and Democratic Party's Botched Prosecution Reform"
Cho Seungrae: "Shameless Even After Producing a Treasonous President"
The ruling and opposition parties are engaged in a blame game, shifting responsibility to each other over President Yoon Seok-yeol being indicted without investigation by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCI) or the prosecution on the 26th.
Shin Dong-wook, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary on the same day, "An unprecedented chaos in the criminal justice system continues regarding the arrest, investigation, and indictment of President Yoon," and claimed, "The chaos revealed by the investigation of the president is due to the 'Moon Jae-in and Democratic Party's botched prosecution reform'."
Shin emphasized, "The HOCI, which does not even have the authority to investigate treason, carried out an illegal arrest, and controversies such as 'judge shopping' continue over the issuance of the arrest warrant by the Western District Court," adding, "Due to the illegal behavior of the HOCI, the argument that 'the court should dismiss the indictment' is gaining strength."
Regarding the prosecution's request for an extension of the detention period being denied twice by the court, he pointed out, "Ultimately, the prosecution changed its stance from 'investigating from scratch' to saying 'there is sufficient evidence,' and indicted President Yoon without a face-to-face investigation, acting like a 'subcontractor for HOCI's prosecution,'" and warned, "In the upcoming trial process, controversies over HOCI's investigative authority, illegal arrest, investigation, detention issues, and illegal evidence collection will inevitably cause national division and legal disputes."
He also repeatedly emphasized that the Democratic Party and former President Moon Jae-in "should take responsibility for causing the current total crisis and apologize to the people instead of acting like an occupying force."
On the other hand, the Democratic Party criticized the People Power Party's reaction, saying, "They deny President Yoon's indictment while showing a double standard by preparing for an early presidential election. It's pathetic."
Cho Seung-rae, the chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing on the same day, "According to media reports, the People Power Party, which is leading the defense of Yoon Seok-yeol, is actually preparing for an early presidential election," and added, "It's pathetic that their preparation for the early election is nothing but 'attacking Lee Jae-myung'."
He continued, "The People Power Party exhausted national strength by attacking Lee Jae-myung throughout their time in power and ultimately ruined the country through treason, and now they are engaging in political offensives again," criticizing, "They really have no conscience."
Regarding the People Power Party's heated criticism of President Yoon's indictment, he said, "So far, the People Power Party has denied the HOCI, prosecution, courts, and Constitutional Court whenever they did not suit their taste. If they deny the judicial system of the Republic of Korea like this, what will remain?" and claimed, "Their shamelessness in producing a treasonous president without any reflection, and their arrogance in swallowing what is sweet and spitting out what is bitter even in judicial procedures, is getting worse."
He also reiterated the necessity of a special investigation law on treason. Cho urged, "A special prosecutor is needed to shatter their delusions and denial of reality," and called on Choi Sang-mok, the acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, to "promptly promulgate the 'Special Investigation Law on Treason.'"
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