Shin Jang-sik "Support for Han Dong-hoon and Chae Haebyeong Special Prosecutor? It Could End as a Muktwi"

"Propose the Special Prosecutor Law for Military Sexual Slavery and Proceed with Political Negotiations"

Shin Jang-sik, a lawmaker from the Jokuk Innovation Party, criticized former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon’s call for the passage of the amended Chae Haebyeong special prosecutor law, saying, "It’s not enough to just mention the special prosecutor law; you have to actually submit it to show sincerity," and warned, "If not, it could end up as a typical meoktwi (a Korean slang term meaning 'eat and run,' referring to someone who only looks out for their own interests and then disappears)."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, on SBS Radio’s 'Kim Taehyun’s Political Show,' Rep. Shin said, "By just talking about the special prosecutor law, Han is drawing media attention and politically appealing at this ruling party’s convention by saying, 'I’m a bit different,'" adding, "This could become a typical meoktwi political behavior where he says, 'Both the opposition and the president are bad.'" He continued, "I hope I’m mistaken," but emphasized, "Han, who actually has many close lawmakers, should make serious efforts to draft the special prosecutor law through them and engage in political negotiations to persuade others."

He also claimed, "Han has repeated meoktwi behavior before," and "There were many instances where he only talked but did not act." He said, "During his time as Minister of Justice, he promised to change the law so that military personnel, civilian employees, and police officers’ bereaved families could claim consolation money, but as soon as his term ended and he became the ruling party leader, that law simply disappeared." Former Minister Han had met the mother of the late Private Hong Jeong-gi, who died during military service, in December last year and promised to amend the prohibition on double compensation under the State Compensation Act.

In his recent announcement to run for party leader, Han expressed conditional support for granting the authority to recommend the Chae Haebyeong special prosecutor to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He criticized the special prosecutor law proposed by the Democratic Party, saying, "It’s like a game where the player chooses the referee, so the truth cannot be uncovered," and stated, "A third party should select the special prosecutor."

In response, Rep. Shin criticized, "The analogy itself is wrong." He explained, "Han’s long-standing habit from his time as a prosecutor, thinking that the prosecutor is the referee, is evident in his words," adding, "The prosecutor and the defendant are opponents who enter the ring with weapons to fight on equal terms, and the referee is the judge." He further pointed out, "Since this case is one where the president is very likely to become a suspect, the special prosecutor must be someone unrelated to the president," and said, "Han must abandon the idea that the prosecutor is the referee if he wants to engage in serious politics."