On the 31st, Jeong Sun-shin's Son School Violence Hearing
Postponed to the 14th Due to Jeong Sun-shin's Absence
Opposition Submits Accusation... Jeong Sun-shin's Spouse and Son Also Witnesses
A hearing to investigate the truth behind school violence involving the son of attorney Jeong Soon-shin, who was appointed and then dropped as head of the National Investigation Headquarters, will be held again on the 14th of next month. This follows criticism that the hearing would be a 'steamed bun without filling' after attorney Jeong, summoned as a key witness, submitted a letter of absence. Opposition members of the National Assembly's Education Committee have filed a complaint against attorney Jeong for refusing to appear.
On the 31st, Kim Young-ho, the opposition whip of the Education Committee, along with Kang Deuk-gu and Seo Dong-yong, visited the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office in the afternoon to submit a complaint against attorneys Jeong Soon-shin and Song Gae-dong for their absence at the hearing.
During the hearing held that morning by the Democratic Party, attorneys Jeong and Song, who represented Jeong's son in an administrative lawsuit to cancel his school transfer, were summoned as key witnesses in the 'Jeong Soon-shin's son school violence' case but both were absent. Attorney Jeong notified the National Assembly the previous day that he could not attend due to "illness and investigation of a criminal case."
Accordingly, the Education Committee passed a motion to change the schedule to resume the hearing investigating the school violence involving Jeong's son on the 14th of next month.
Education Committee postpones Jeong Soon-shin school violence hearing to next month 14th
Yoo Ki-hong, chair of the Education Committee, proposed the schedule change amid ruling party opposition, and the motion was approved with 9 votes in favor and 3 against out of 13 members present. The People Power Party, which initially opposed holding the hearing itself, had only three members attend: Lee Tae-gyu, Seo Byung-soo, and Kwon Eun-hee.
Immediately after the vote, Representative Kwon stated in a parliamentary procedure speech, "I agreed that today's hearing was necessary to confirm the education authorities' inadequate response and mishandling of school violence," adding, "Although Jeong Soon-shin personally did not attend, before forcing and demanding his attendance, the education and administrative authorities must first verify what mistakes were made. Skipping this process and holding a hearing to summon a private citizen would be an abuse of the National Assembly's authority."
Representative Lee Tae-gyu also criticized, "Saying the hearing cannot proceed because Jeong Soon-shin did not appear seems like turning the hearing into a political denunciation and a political show." Following this, all People Power Party members left the session.
However, Democratic Party members pointed out reasons why attorney Jeong must appear. Kang Deuk-gu said, "I agree with much of what Representative Kwon said, but Jeong's son was assigned to a forced transfer before the relocation of residence. Most of these matters require legal expertise," countering the opposition's stance. He further referred to the "Jeong Soon-shin - Minjago - Banpogo cartel," questioning, "How can we obtain what we want to know through the hearing without attorney Jeong?"
Fellow party member Ahn Min-seok also emphasized, "Today's hearing was a Jeong Soon-shin hearing. Is a hearing without Jeong Soon-shin really a Jeong Soon-shin hearing? It's like a steamed bun without filling or underwear without elastic. Jeong Soon-shin had to attend the hearing, but since he did not, the hearing was postponed."
Jeong Soon-shin's spouse and son also adopted as hearing witnesses
The Education Committee filed a complaint against attorney Jeong for his absence according to relevant laws and plans to summon him again for the hearing on the 14th of next month.
Yoo Ki-hong, chair of the Education Committee, said, "The complaints against Jeong Soon-shin and Song Gae-dong have been filed under the National Assembly's Testimony and Inspection Act," adding, "If they are absent again at the next hearing, they may be newly charged." He continued, "(Since Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok and attorney Jeong are contemporaries) if the prosecution shows favoritism in the investigation, the National Assembly will have no choice but to take further measures," emphasizing, "Today's complaint is for today's absence, and if new witnesses are added and they are absent again next time, new complaints will be filed to ensure the authority of the National Assembly is not disregarded."
On the same day, Jeong Soon-shin's spouse and son were added as witnesses required to attend the hearing on April 14th. Opposition whip Kim said after the meeting, "For the hearing on April 14th, we have included Jeong's wife and two sons as witnesses. If attorney Jeong does not attend, we believe it is necessary for either his wife or his son, who is the direct perpetrator, to come forward and confirm the facts."
In response, the People Power Party issued a statement in the afternoon criticizing, "If the Democratic Party wanted to resolve the school violence issue by holding a hearing, it should have proceeded as planned today. It would have been appropriate to focus on hearing opinions from the government and experts about the education authorities' inadequate response, institutional shortcomings, and government-level measures to solve school violence, and to promptly resolve the issue through legislation by the National Assembly," adding, "Holding a hearing targeting attorney Jeong, who has already resigned and become a private citizen, is another form of violent behavior."
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