Jang Dong-hyuk's National Assembly Audit Avoidance Request Sparks Unusual Scene of Ruling and Opposition Parties Defending Each Other: "Prosecutors' Excessive Indictment"

Jeong Cheong-rae "Prosecutorial Abuse Possible in Legal Affairs Committee Indictments"
Jang Kyung-tae "What Are the Non-Prosecution Criteria for Nylon and Rubber Bands?"

On the 21st, Jang Dong-hyeok, a member of the People Power Party who was indicted for underreporting assets by about 30 million won in the April 10 general election (violation of the Public Official Election Act), requested to be excused from the National Assembly inspection, but an unusual scene unfolded as opposition party lawmakers tried to stop him. They defended him, saying the underreporting was not intentional and the amount was relatively small, and that the prosecution had overreached in indicting him.

During his personal remarks at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly that day, Jang cited the fact that the prosecution's maintenance of the indictment against him is directed by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and stated, "I will voluntarily recuse myself from questioning the Prosecutor General at today's inspection to avoid a conflict of interest."

Earlier, Jang was indicted on the 11th for underreporting assets worth about 30 million won (violation of the Public Official Election Act) and had conveyed his intention to resign from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the party's floor leadership. However, his resignation has not yet been accepted due to the ongoing inspection. Jang's side maintains that the underreporting was due to an employee's mistake in entering the numbers and that there was no intentional asset underreporting. Previously, the Election Commission considered the amount and the lack of intent and treated it as a minor issue, issuing a 'warning' without requesting an investigation or filing a complaint.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After Jang made his personal remarks and tried to leave the inspection hall, opposition lawmakers in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee opposed his avoidance of the inspection. Jeong Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party, said, "Jang's underreporting of 30 million won in assets is likely a clerical error, and the prosecution's overzealous indictment is a common opinion among both ruling and opposition lawmakers," adding, "There is a presumption of innocence, and during the committee's activities, whenever the prosecution makes an overreaching indictment, the question arises whether recusal is necessary. If that happens, there is a risk that committee members could be exploited by the prosecution through indictments," explaining the reason for not allowing recusal.

Jang Gyeong-tae, a Democratic Party lawmaker who has been critical of the ruling party, also joined in. He cited the case of Park Deok-heum, a People Power Party lawmaker who previously underreported assets by about 500 million won but was not prosecuted, saying, "Jang's (omitted) assets were matters previously published in the official gazette. What are the prosecution's nylon and rubber band standards for non-prosecution?"

Criticism arose that there is a lack of fairness compared to cases where the prosecution overlooked underreported assets without taking action, and the prosecution came under fire. Chairman Jeong criticized, "Former Jeonju District Prosecutor Park Young-jin declared diamonds as assets worth 1,000 won. Why was he let off while Jang was indicted?" Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo raised new suspicions by mentioning that Jang is close to the faction friendly to Han Dong-hoon, saying, "There are many stories that this is because he is close to Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party leader."