[Exclusive] Jeong Sun-shin to Miss Hearing Again on 14th Due to "Mental and Physical Weakness"; Son and Wife Also Absent

Key Witnesses of Jeong Sun-shin Hearing All 3 Absent
Due to Panic Disorder and Mental Weakness

Attorney Jeong Sun-shin, who was appointed as the head of the National Investigation Headquarters but stepped down due to a school violence controversy involving his son, is expected to be absent again from the 'Jeong Sun-shin Hearing' scheduled for the 14th, following his absence on the 31st of last month. Along with this, it has been confirmed that Jeong’s wife and son, whom the Democratic Party requested as additional witnesses, also submitted letters of absence citing 'mental and physical weakness' as the reason.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Democratic Party offices of the National Assembly Education Committee members on the 12th, the three key witnesses?Attorney Jeong, his wife Jo, and his son Jeong?submitted letters of absence for the Education Committee’s 'Hearing on the Investigation of School Violence by Jeong Sun-shin’s Children and the Establishment of Measures to Prevent Recurrence' scheduled for the 14th.

Democratic Party members of the National Assembly Education Committee, after the hearing on Jeong Sun-shin on the 31st of last month was disrupted due to Attorney Jeong’s absence and submission of a letter of absence, postponed the hearing by two weeks and requested not only Attorney Jeong but also his wife and son as additional witnesses.

However, Attorney Jeong again submitted a letter of absence this time. The reason given was the same as before: 'panic disorder, etc.'

Additionally, Jeong’s wife and son, who also submitted letters of absence, cited 'extreme stress causing severe mental and physical weakness' as their reason.

Regarding this, Attorney Jeong submitted the same medical certificate attached to his letter of absence on the 31st of last month, but it has been confirmed that his wife and son did not submit any medical certificates.

The Democratic Party emphasized that the reasons given by the witnesses do not qualify as 'justifiable reasons for absence' under Article 12, Paragraph 1 of the 'Act on Testimony and Appraisal in the National Assembly,' and considering that the majority of the public wants to ascertain the truth about the school violence involving former prosecutor Jeong Sun-shin’s children, their attendance at the hearing is strongly demanded.

Earlier, Yoo Ki-hong, Chair of the National Assembly Education Committee, also stated, "If they are absent from the hearing, we will respond strictly according to law and principles." Kim Young-ho, the opposition party’s secretary of the Education Committee, submitted a complaint against Attorney Jeong and others who were absent on the 31st, and if they are absent again at the hearing on the 14th, it is expected that there will be discussions on whether to file complaints not only against Attorney Jeong but also against his wife and son.

A representative from the Democratic Party office of the National Assembly Education Committee said, "Attorney Jeong has submitted a letter of absence for the hearing scheduled on the 14th," adding, "Further discussions are needed regarding the response to this matter."