Prosecutors Raid Office of Lee's Closest Aide Jeong Jin-sang, Party Representative's Political Coordination Office on the 9th
Democratic Party Condemns Search Attempts at Party Headquarters and National Assembly Main Building as "Political Oppression"
On the 9th, reporters were waiting in front of the Secretariat of the Democratic Party of Korea inside the National Assembly. The prosecution entered the main building of the National Assembly to conduct a search and seizure of the office of Jeong Jin-sang, the Chief Political Coordinator of the party leader, but did not receive permission from the Speaker of the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
Prosecutors arrived on the 9th to conduct a search of the office of Jeong Jin-sang, Chief Political Coordination Officer of the Democratic Party's Central Party Headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Joon-i] The Democratic Party of Korea criticized the prosecution's search and seizure of Jeong Jin-sang, the party representative's chief political coordinator, as a "show trial" and strongly condemned the prosecution's political oppression.
On the day, the prosecution attempted to conduct search and seizure at the residence of Jeong, a close aide to party leader Lee Jae-myung, as well as at the Democratic Party headquarters and the office within the National Assembly main building. This came about 20 days after the prosecution searched the Democratic Party central headquarters to investigate illegal presidential election funds related to Kim Yong, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute.
Following the arrest and indictment of Kim, considered a close aide to Lee, the prosecution has now turned its sights on Jeong.
In the morning, the prosecution attempted to search the Democratic Party leader's secretariat office in the National Assembly but was blocked from the start during the meeting procedure with the Speaker of the National Assembly.
To conduct a search and seizure in the National Assembly, it is customary to report to the Speaker, the head of the legislative branch, before proceeding. Accordingly, the prosecution followed the usual procedure by notifying the National Assembly Secretariat of the crime details, search and seizure targets, locations, and scope as stated in the warrant, and sought approval through a meeting with the Speaker's secretariat. However, the meeting with Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, a member of the Democratic Party, failed, delaying the search attempt in the morning.
The party representative's office pointed out the inappropriateness of the search and seizure in detail. Kim Ji-ho, deputy director of political affairs, stated in a notice sent to party officials that "The party leader's secretariat works on the 2nd floor of the National Assembly main building and has never worked at the party headquarters, nor does Jeong Jin-sang have a workspace there."
He added, "It appears that the prosecution intends to search a place where Jeong does not work," and criticized, "There is a reasonable suspicion that the prosecution aims to expose a standoff between party officials and the prosecutors executing the search warrant at the party headquarters to the media."
The Democratic Party, which had refrained from official comments, voiced criticism after the Supreme Council meeting, calling it an "excessive investigation."
Senior spokesperson Ahn Ho-young told reporters after the meeting, "We clearly see this as an excessive investigation, political oppression, and a show trial by the prosecution," and said, "We condemn the prosecution." He explained, "Jeong has sincerely cooperated with the prosecution's investigation so far, and the Democratic Party had expressed willingness to voluntarily submit documents during the search of Deputy Director Kim Yong." He continued, "Although the party leader's annex office is on the 9th floor of the Democratic Party headquarters, Jeong does not have a separate office nor has he ever worked there. The prosecution is aware of this but still requested the search, which is a kind of political show aimed at tarnishing the Democratic Party." He also added, "Given the significant public anger over the Itaewon tragedy, this seems like a diversionary tactic to shift public attention."
Regarding the search and seizure of the office in the National Assembly main building where Jeong works, he said, "Since the main building is under the authority of the Speaker of the National Assembly, we will respond according to legal procedures after reviewing the Speaker's judgment."
Meanwhile, Jeong is facing charges including violation of the Anti-Corruption Act and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery). The indictment reportedly includes allegations that Kim Man-bae claimed that some shares related to the Daejang-dong development project belonged to Deputy Director Kim, Jeong, and former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu. Kim was arrested and indicted on charges of receiving 847 million won in presidential election funds for Lee.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
