與 "Funding flow path is key... Bank's inadequate investigation must be clarified"
Opposition "Prosecutors wasted a month... Urge meeting between Democratic Party and Lee floor leader"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Both ruling and opposition parties jointly called for the introduction of a special prosecutor (special investigation) regarding the prosecution's interim investigation results on the Daejang-dong development preferential treatment allegations, stating that suspicions surrounding the opposing presidential candidates have not been resolved. However, the ruling party pressured Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and the lead prosecutor at the time, arguing that the investigation should start with the Busan Savings Bank loan corruption case, which was the initial starting point of the Daejang-dong allegations. Meanwhile, the opposition party countered by targeting presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, demanding a proper investigation into the "main culprit," causing the special prosecutor introduction discussions to stall.
Kim Byung-wook, head of the Special Task Force for the Investigation of Construction Corruption at Hwacheon Daeyu under the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the 11th plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
On the 23rd, Kim Byung-wook, head of the Democratic Party's 'Hwacheon Daeyu Construction Corruption Truth-Finding Task Force (TF),' commented on the prosecution's indictment of Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, and Nam Wook, the owner of Cheonhwa-dongin No. 4, saying, "I am very dissatisfied and there are many regrettable aspects." On MBC Radio that morning, Representative Kim said, "The core of the Daejang-dong case is where the money came from and whose pockets the money went into," pointing out, "The root cause is the inadequate investigation of Busan Savings Bank." He added, "There has been no investigation into that part at all," emphasizing, "The source and final destination of the money must be thoroughly uncovered." This aligns with candidate Lee's evaluation of the prosecution's interim investigation the previous day. Lee expressed dissatisfaction to reporters, saying, "I am very curious about what they have been doing during that long period."
In 2011, when the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Central Investigation Department investigated the illegal loan case of Busan Savings Bank, the Daejang-dong loan case was excluded from the investigation. The Democratic Party is attacking that Yoon, who was the lead prosecutor as head of the Central Investigation Division 2 at the time, failed to conduct a proper investigation, thus providing a pretext for the Daejang-dong allegations. Accordingly, they argue that the investigation scope should include Busan Savings Bank.
However, the opposition party is focusing on the "main culprit investigation" rather than reacting to the Busan Savings Bank case, concentrating their attacks on candidate Lee.
Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is delivering opening remarks at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized at the morning floor strategy meeting, "It seems the prosecution has only wasted time over the past month," adding, "The investigation has not even approached near the main culprit." He belittled the investigation as "just plucking a feather attached to the tail," urging the prompt implementation of a special prosecutor. Floor leader Kim emphasized, "Those who refuse the special prosecutor are the culprits," and urged, "I call on the Democratic Party and candidate Lee to participate in the ruling and opposition floor leaders' meeting to discuss the special prosecutor law as soon as possible."
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