Handonghun Proposes Special Prosecutor Law for Third-Party Recommendations
"If Pushed After Becoming Party Leader, It Will Be Too Late"
The Democratic Party of Korea responded to former People Power Party emergency committee member Han Dong-hoon, who proposed a special prosecutor law (Cha Corporal Special Prosecutor Law) for the investigation into the death of Corporal Chae and allegations of external pressure on the investigation, by saying they agree unconditionally.
Jinseongjun, the Policy Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Park Sung-joon, the Democratic Party's senior deputy floor leader, stated at a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 25th, "We welcome the advanced stance on the Cha Corporal Special Prosecutor Law," but added, "Former committee member Han should agree to the special prosecutor law without attaching any conditions."
Park said, "The timing of pushing for the special prosecutor is the issue. Han said he would only push for it after becoming party leader, but that is too late," and continued, "We will have to discuss the special prosecutor law again after more than a month, during which evidence is being destroyed and communication records are disappearing."
Park also said, "Entrusting the recommendation of the special prosecutor to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the grounds of neutrality is a naive idea," and argued, "In the past, when public opinion was boiling over the BBK stock manipulation allegations against former President Lee Myung-bak, the then Chief Justice recommended Jeong Ho-young as special prosecutor, who investigated but gave a clean bill of health. However, in 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the BBK allegations were true and sentenced former President Lee to 17 years in prison."
Furthermore, he said, "In the case of the Cha Corporal special prosecutor, it is natural for the legislature and opposition party to recommend a special prosecutor to resolve allegations that the president, the presidential office, and state power institutions were fully mobilized and intervened at the frontline," adding, "The key is not to repeat the unfortunate history where the prosecution and special prosecutor gave a clean bill of health." He emphasized, "Former committee member Han said that the People Power Party cannot oppose the special prosecutor and should not oppose it," and added, "He should not talk about conditions and must agree to the special prosecutor law being discussed in the National Assembly."
Former committee member Han said at a press conference announcing his candidacy at the National Assembly communication office on the 23rd, "At this point, the People Power Party cannot oppose the (Cha Corporal) special prosecutor. The People Power Party must take the lead in pushing for a special prosecutor to uncover the truth," and added, "A third party, such as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who can guarantee a fair decision, not the Democratic Party, People Power Party, or the president, should select the special prosecutor."
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