Police Decide Not to Prosecute Due to Parliamentary Immunity and Other Reasons
Prosecutors Request Reinvestigation to Verify Additional Facts
Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae turned back at the entrance of the event while trying to attend the "National Monk Rally to Eradicate Religious Bias and Distortion of Buddhism and to Protect the Autonomy of Korean Buddhism" held on the 21st in the front yard of the Daeungjeon Hall at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police decided not to prosecute regarding the remarks made by Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who compared temples charging cultural heritage viewing fees to 'Bong-i Kim Seon-dal,' but the prosecution has requested a reinvestigation.
According to the police and legal circles on the 16th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office requested a reinvestigation on the 4th regarding the police's decision not to prosecute Jeong on charges of defamation and insult by spreading false information. A police official explained, "It is to verify additional facts."
Earlier, in October last year during a national audit, Jeong referred to the cultural heritage viewing fee at Haeinsa Temple as a toll and compared the temple collecting it to 'Bong-i Kim Seon-dal,' drawing protests from the Buddhist community. In November of the same year, the civic group People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee filed a complaint against Jeong with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, and the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul took over the case and began an investigation.
On the 3rd, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station decided not to prosecute based on 'parliamentary immunity.' The police judged, "Regarding defamation, members of the National Assembly are not held responsible outside the National Assembly for statements and votes made in the course of their duties," and "there was no complaint from the victim regarding the insult charge."
However, the prosecution requested a reinvestigation just one day after the police decision. According to the Criminal Procedure Act, when the police decide not to prosecute, they must send the decision document and related materials to the prosecutor, who can request a reinvestigation if they judge the decision to be illegal or unjust.
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