Gwak Sang-do and Park Beom-gye Clash Over Kim Hak-ui: "Blue House Plot" vs. "Groundless Speculation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Junhyung] Gwak Sang-do, a member of the People Power Party, and Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, engaged in a dispute over the 'Blue House-planned investigation' allegations surrounding the illegal travel ban case of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.

At the National Assembly's government questioning session held on the 19th, Rep. Gwak said, "President Moon Jae-in used fabricated false documents as a basis to mobilize public authority to suppress opposition party lawmakers," adding, "Is it acceptable for human rights lawyers and democracy activists to do such things?" Earlier, Rep. Gwak was under investigation after President Moon ordered the investigation of the 'Kim Hak-ui case' in 2019 but was cleared of charges.

Rep. Gwak claimed, "After the president's order, I underwent a life-or-death investigation by the prosecution and police," and asserted, "At the center of the Blue House's document fabrication and planned investigation targeting opposition lawmakers who raised suspicions about the president's daughter is President Moon."

Minister Park responded, "At that time, the 'Kim Hak-ui video' emerged as a national suspicion," and said, "It was a very natural phenomenon for the president to give such an order." He added, "I cannot confirm whether the president spoke based on (fabricated) evidence, and for now, it is the lawmaker's speculation."

Minister Park also questioned, "During his time as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, the prosecution made decisions of no charges in the first and second investigations of the Kim Hak-ui case, so why is there no anger about that?" and asked, "You talk about procedural justice, but why must it be this case?"

In response, Rep. Gwak said, "Because I am the subject of a life-or-death investigation," and asked, "The president can order an investigation without any conclusion, but does that mean opposition lawmakers can only raise objections after a conclusion is reached?"

Meanwhile, Minister Park revealed that before President Moon's remarks related to the investigation order, the Ministry of Justice had reported materials to the Blue House, which were then forwarded to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team after the April 7 by-elections. Regarding allegations that former Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won, who was indicted on suspicion of illegal travel ban, was recommended by Lee Kwang-chul, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, Park said, "There has been no confirmation."