Min Byung-doo "Prosecutors Leaked Indictment Illegally"

Min Byung-doo, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Min Byungdoo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized, saying "The prosecution leaked the indictment through an illegal method."

On the 10th, Min appeared on YTN Radio's 'Noh Younghee's Start of a New Morning' and said, "Last October, the prosecution reform plan already included the non-disclosure of indictments. At that time, even the prosecution had no objection to that part. This is important."

He continued, "If the prosecution was going to leak the indictment in this way, then opposing the prosecution reform plan at that time would have been appropriate. But they agreed back then, and now leaking the indictment through illegal means causes misunderstandings like 'the prosecution is engaging in politics,' doesn't it?"

Min said, "When the National Assembly requests materials, it is stipulated by the Witness and Evidence Act that they must be submitted, but there are exceptions. When disputing those exceptions, there are many complex legal issues," adding, "For example, in the case of veterans' review, if meeting minutes are requested to be disclosed, the government absolutely refuses to disclose them. If all the names are revealed, who supported and who opposed would be exposed on the internet, causing a backlash, so they cannot do that."

Kim Yongtae, a member of the Liberty Korea Party who appeared on the same broadcast, said, "The prosecution did not arbitrarily disclose the indictment. The National Assembly requested the disclosure of the indictment in the name of the people, and Minister Choo refused it, didn't he?" He added, "The National Assembly has the Witness and Evidence Act, and under that act, requested the Ministry of Justice to disclose the indictment. The problem lies in the fact that it was not disclosed without justifiable reasons."

He continued, "Minister Choo made a bad move and kept making worse moves," raising his voice, "He claimed that non-disclosure of indictments is the principle in the U.S., but the principle is disclosure, and only exceptionally can it be withheld. This was revealed later, causing even more embarrassment."