Cho Hee-yeon Side: "Prosecutor's Office's Request for Public Corruption Investigation Agency Indictment Is Illegal and Unjust"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, has demanded the prosecution to dismiss charges, arguing that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) requesting prosecution to the prosecution regarding special recruitment is illegal and unjust.

On the 13th, Superintendent Cho's lawyer submitted an opinion letter with this content to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Through the opinion letter, Superintendent Cho's side emphasized, "In late July 2018, it was only the initial stage of reviewing whether to conduct special recruitment, and the decision to carry out special recruitment had not yet been made," adding, "Therefore, it is unjust to recognize that the superintendent and the secretary-general conspired."

Regarding the investigation results that obstructed the exercise of intermediate approval rights related to special recruitment of the deputy superintendent and others, they argued, "The relevant affairs are subject to the superintendent's approval, and the director, bureau chief, and deputy superintendent do not have approval rights to decide on the affairs." The approval right lies only with the superintendent, who has the authority to decide the basic plan for special recruitment, and the deputy superintendent and others do not have approval rights or intermediate approval rights regarding this.

Regarding the claim that the screening committee members for special recruitment were selected in a biased manner, they stated, "There was no discussion with the secretary-general about whom to appoint as screening committee members, nor was there any report received from the secretary-general about the appointment of screening committee members."

Meanwhile, after the PCC's judgment was made, Superintendent Cho stated, "The Board of Audit and Inspection has instructed that the superintendent be given a 'warning' and the former secretary-general be given a 'disciplinary action of mild severity or higher' regarding this matter," adding, "I believe this is a matter to be concluded administratively, not a criminal case of abuse of authority." He further added, "I will actively prove my innocence in the judicial process going forward." The prosecution also plans to conduct additional investigations if necessary after reviewing Superintendent Cho's opinion letter.