Democratic Party Targets 'Prosecutor Personnel Controversy'... "Kim Geon-hee is a Prime Example of Unfairness"

Indication of Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Bill Proposal in the 22nd National Assembly
Special Law on Jeonse Fraud Expected to be Passed at the Plenary Session on the 28th

The Democratic Party of Korea criticized the prosecution personnel reshuffle amid the controversy over First Lady Kim Geon-hee's protection, calling it an "unfair case of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the morning of the 17th, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok suddenly made personnel changes right after ordering an investigation into the First Lady," adding, "The day before, the First Lady appeared in public for the first time in 153 days. Isn't that quite a coincidence?" He also emphasized, "The prosecution personnel reshuffle, carried out without the consent of the Prosecutor General, is evidence of an attempt to block the investigation into the First Lady," and "The First Lady is a representative case showing the unfairness of the Yoon administration and the prosecution's biased investigation."

He also expressed his intention to propose a special investigation law for the First Lady in the 22nd National Assembly. Jeong Cheong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said regarding the prosecution personnel changes, "The previous Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who acted as a guardian of fairness, common sense, and justice by investigating the living power, and the current President Yoon Seok-yeol have contradictory perceptions and self-contradictions," adding, "In the 22nd National Assembly, the first task will be to prove that the people are the owners in the showdown between the special investigation and Yoon Seok-yeol's dictatorship regime." Jang Kyung-tae, another Supreme Council member, stated, "The prosecution headquarters and Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office were devastated due to the investigation policy against the First Lady, but does the prosecution have no minimum honor or pride?" and added, "It seems that a special investigation is the only way." Furthermore, he said, "If the First Lady wants to come out now that the general election is over and the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has changed, she should start by establishing a second secretariat."

On the 13th, the Ministry of Justice replaced the command line of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which was investigating allegations of luxury bag receipt and stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors involving the First Lady, by promoting the chief prosecutor and the first to fourth deputy chiefs. Former Seoul Central District Prosecutor Song Kyung-ho was transferred to Busan High Prosecutors' Office, and Lee Chang-soo, former Jeonju District Prosecutor classified as pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction), was appointed as the new head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok expressed indirect dissatisfaction by remaining silent for seven seconds when asked about the personnel changes the following day. Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae said to reporters while going to the government Gwacheon office the day before, "We have fully consulted with the Prosecutor General," and "The investigation will proceed as planned."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party pressured the People Power Party to pass the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud (Partial Amendment Act on Support for Victims of Jeonse Fraud and Housing Stability) at the plenary session scheduled for the 28th. The Special Act on Jeonse Fraud contains provisions to promptly support victims of jeonse fraud through a "rescue first, reimbursement later" approach. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, said, "Instead of preparing measures, the government has rejected the National Assembly's amendment bill," and added, "The Democratic Party will definitely pass the Special Act on Jeonse Fraud at the plenary session on the 28th. The government and ruling party must cooperate in passing the amendment bill."