"I Never Opposed the Appeal...
No Discussions Held with the Office of the President Regarding the Case"
Jeong Seongho, Minister of Justice, is responding to a question from Bae Junyoung, a member of the People Power Party, at the Budget and Accounts Special Committee plenary meeting held on the 12th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.
Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho addressed concerns regarding his instruction to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to carefully review the decision to forgo an appeal in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, stating, "How could that be considered external pressure?"
On the 12th, during the plenary session of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, Minister Jeong spoke with reporters. When asked about criticisms that his request for careful review to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office could be perceived as external pressure, he replied, "How could that be considered external pressure? It's something that is said routinely."
Lee Jinsu, Vice Minister of Justice, who attended the Budget Subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that day, avoided giving direct answers to questions such as whether he had requested Acting Prosecutor General Noh Manseok to forgo the appeal, and whether the decision not to appeal was based on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's judgment or an instruction from the Ministry of Justice. He only stated, "If there are questions from lawmakers at the National Assembly today, I believe there will be an opportunity to explain."
Additionally, Minister Jeong stated regarding the prosecution’s decision not to appeal, "There was no opposition to the appeal," and clarified that there was no consultation with the Office of the President. He said, "There is no discussion at all with the Office of the President regarding this case," and added, "As far as I know, (Ministry of Justice staff) have never discussed the case outcome or the decision to appeal with the Office of the President."
Minister Jeong also commented on some prosecutors' opposition to the decision not to appeal, stating, "I believe it is highly inappropriate for chief prosecutors to collectively express their opinions regarding whether to appeal in individual cases."
Minister Jeong reaffirmed that he had never opposed the appeal. In response to a question from Bae Junyoung, a member of the People Power Party, asking whether he had opposed the appeal, he replied, "I did not oppose it, not in the end." When it was pointed out that his actions were "effectively an opposition," he countered, "Isn't there a difference between what is effectively done and what is legal?"
Assemblyman Bae argued that the instruction to direct investigations should be given in writing, as required by law, and claimed this was "illegal." In response, Minister Jeong said, "If I had intended to give a directive, I would have done so in writing," and added, "If the prosecution had regarded (the request for careful review, etc.) as a directive, they would have requested that it be given in writing."
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