Kim Yong-pan Criticizing Yoon Seok-yeol, Now 'Harsh Words' for the Corruption Investigation Office... "This Is No Ordinary Matter"

On April 28, Kim Yong-pan, a member of the People Power Party who was indicted on charges of exerting external pressure during the investigation of the National Intelligence Service comment manipulation case but was acquitted by the Supreme Court, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, demanding an apology from Yoon Seok-youl, former Prosecutor General and head of the special prosecution team at the time. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Kim Yong-pan, a member of the People Power Party, expressed his stance to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gongjigongchikja Beomjoe Susa Cheo) that is targeting former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "They must break free from the temptation that if you oppose the current administration, you are guilty, and if you are friendly, you are innocent." Kim had publicly criticized Yoon in April, who investigated him during the 2013 'National Intelligence Service Comment Scandal.'

On the 14th, Kim stated on Facebook, "If there is even a trace of the consciousness that opposing the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency means opposing the Moon Jae-in administration and thus being guilty, and the opposite means innocence, then there is no future to see for the agency." The agency formally registered Yoon on the 4th on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of rights.

Kim attached a post quoting Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, who on the 10th said, "It is said that an investigation is underway against former Prosecutor General Yoon, who is attracting attention as a leading opposition presidential candidate. The one on the test stand is not Yoon but the agency. The public will watch and judge whether they can handle this matter freely from the pressure of power and whether they have investigative capabilities." Kim emphasized, "This seems to be in line with what I want to say."

He also said, "From the perspective of someone who has been investigated on absurd abuse of authority charges and received ridiculous prosecutorial dispositions, the agency's investigation into Yoon's abuse of authority case is not something to be taken lightly."

Kim was twice investigated on abuse of authority charges due to the so-called National Intelligence Service female employee comment scandal and the Police Security Investigation Unit comment scandal. He pointed out, "If the agency repeats the series of investigative behaviors that the prosecution did to me, it will never establish itself as a trusted investigative agency by the public."

Meanwhile, when Kim was investigated for the National Intelligence Service comment scandal, the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office special investigation team was Yoon. Accordingly, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly in April, publicly raising past responsibility issues against Yoon. Expressing his grievance at the time, Kim said, "If Yoon has decided to become a political leader, the first thing he must do is apologize."