Rejection of Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Bill After 2 Weeks, 'Lee Jong-seop Special Prosecutor Law'
Cho Kuk Predicts 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Law'... Anti-Prosecution Full-Scale Offensive
Ruling Party Worried About Election Impact... Democratic Party Also Fears Backlash
If the so-called 'Cho Kuk incident' dominated the political landscape of the 21st general election, the opposition's 'special prosecutor offensive' is intensifying ahead of this election. The strategy is to pressure the government and ruling party with special prosecutors and promote the 'judgment theory.'
According to political circles on the 13th, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed the "Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop's Overseas Escape (Lee Jong-seop Special Prosecutor Act)" as a party resolution the day before. This came two weeks after the "Kim Kun-hee Special Prosecutor Act," which was rejected after a veto and re-vote in the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th of last month, was finally defeated.
Democratic Party Chief Whip Park Ju-min (center), Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Secretary Lee Yong-sun (left), and Assemblyman Yoo Dong-soo are submitting the Special Prosecutor Act for Lee Jong-seop to the National Assembly Secretariat on the morning of the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, former Minister Lee Jong-seop was subject to a travel ban by the Ministry of Justice following allegations of external pressure on the investigation into the death of a Marine. However, after being appointed ambassador to Australia, he voluntarily appeared before the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (PCC) and filed an objection to the travel ban during a four-hour interview. The Ministry of Justice lifted the restriction on the 8th, and the ambassador departed for Australia two days later, on the 10th.
The Democratic Party defined this as 'criminal escape.' They argue that a special prosecutor should investigate officials from the Presidential Office, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs who are presumed to have been involved in Lee's departure. On the 11th, party leader Lee Jae-myung stated at a supreme council meeting, "Is this administration sane? If they were making normal judgments, this would not happen," calling it "a case of hiding criminals and facilitating their overseas escape using state power."
Other opposition parties and the third zone share the same stance on this issue. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, said, "Since the suspect, former Minister Lee Jong-seop, ultimately succeeded in escaping, he can rightly be called 'Run Jong-seop.'" He added, "When the criminal investigation net tightens, fleeing abroad is the dream escape scenario for all criminals, but since the state is leading this by appointing him to a high office, it couldn't be better."
Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is leaving the National Assembly Communication Hall after a press conference related to the general election on the 12th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, also joined in. He announced plans to propose the "Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act" as the first bill once the 22nd National Assembly convenes. The act aims to investigate three issues: ▲ allegations of political prosecution's involvement in instigating accusations, ▲ allegations related to the disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, and ▲ allegations of ghostwriting his daughter's thesis. Cho Kuk held his first press conference at the National Assembly communication office the day before, stating, "The people need to deliver a stern judgment on political prosecutors obsessed with selective investigations."
Cho Kuk was investigated by prosecutors over controversies such as 'admission fraud involving his children' that surfaced after his appointment as Minister of Justice in 2019. Han Dong-hoon, head of the Anti-Corruption Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who led the investigation, was demoted, and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl opposed the Moon Jae-in administration, emerging as a strong presidential candidate. Cho Kuk was sentenced to two years in prison in the second trial on the 8th of last month. Although he declared his intention to run as a proportional representative, his chances of winning are high given his support base, but he may lose his seat depending on the Supreme Court's ruling.
Flood of Special Prosecutors... Opposition Worries About Backlash, Ruling Party Worries About Defense
During the last presidential election, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was indicted on charges of making false statements, requested supporters to be quiet in order to express his position before attending the continuation of the first trial for violation of the Public Official Election Act held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the morning of the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Following the 'Kim Kun-hee Special Prosecutor' effort that has been pursued since last year, the continued special prosecutor offensives targeting the government and ruling party ahead of the general election have raised concerns within the Democratic Party. A first-term DPK lawmaker said, "I think the necessity of special prosecutors for the various corruption allegations against Mrs. Kim Kun-hee and for former Minister Lee Jong-seop and Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon are different in nature," expressing worry that "if special prosecutors are overused too easily, it will not be good for our party." Another metropolitan area prospective candidate expressed concern, saying, "The judgment theory could be directed toward the majority party (DPK) amid the chaos over nominations."
The People Power Party is focusing calmly on defense but appears increasingly concerned. If the opposition's special prosecutor offensive begins to gain public support, it could inevitably have a negative impact on the general election. Floor leader Yoon Jae-ok rebutted, "It seems they are trying to politically exploit frames like overseas escape ahead of the election." A first-term lawmaker in the metropolitan area said, "Leader Lee Jae-myung is only trying to cover his own judicial risks with the special prosecutor offensive," but added, "Candidates who have to fight in the metropolitan area are not happy to give such an excuse."
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