Park Hong-geun: "Jeong Jin-sang is not the type to do such a thing... Prosecution relies solely on one-sided testimony"

"Opposition Lawmakers' Participation in Candlelight Vigils, Anyone Can Join as a Citizen"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 20th, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said about Jeong Jin-sang, the party representative's political coordination office chief who was detained by the prosecution, "Based on the information I have known so far and Jeong's own various circumstances, I am confident that he is not someone who would commit the acts the prosecution claims."

After attending the 'Veterinary Society Without Borders' symposium at the National Assembly in the afternoon, Park told reporters, "During last year's presidential primary, I served as Chief of Staff to Representative Lee Jae-myung and worked alongside Jeong as one of several deputy chiefs," revealing this.

He added, "As the person overseeing floor operations, since Jeong's detention is not a floor matter, I will defer to the party representative and spokesperson's stance," but also pointed out, "The exact facts will be revealed in court later, but I have serious concerns about the prosecution's excessively ruthless and one-sided reliance on statements."

Regarding the attendance of Democratic Party lawmakers including Ahn Min-seok, Kang Min-jung, Kim Yong-min, Yoo Jung-joo, and independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae at the candlelight rally calling for the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol government the day before, he said, "The party cannot preemptively control the political actions voluntarily taken by lawmakers, who are constitutional institutions elected by the people and legislative bodies." Park added, "Any party member who shares the sentiment of the candlelight rally can participate as a citizen."

On interpretations that the investigation into Representative Lee has effectively made it difficult to hold a ruling-opposition summit with President Yoon Seok-yeol, Park criticized, "If it means that the ruling party will not officially meet the leader of the largest opposition party in the National Assembly going forward, that is extremely serious. It means ignoring the National Assembly and refusing cooperation."