Opposition Party Holds First Meeting of Special Committee to Block Lee's Trial Cancellation

The People Power Party's special committee to block President Lee's trial cancellation strongly asserted on June 22 that the pressure on prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, must cease.

Chairman Joo Jin-woo opened the first meeting of the committee at the National Assembly, stating, "President Lee is trying to make young Prosecutor Park a scapegoat for 'self-prosecution cancellation.' Defending Prosecutor Park against this pressure is our primary line of defense."

Joo criticized, "The entire Democratic Party is attacking him, with the special prosecutor imposing a travel ban, the Ministry of Justice suspending his duties indefinitely, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office attempting further disciplinary actions. They are trying to use the pressure on Prosecutor Park as a stepping stone for the cancellation of President Lee's prosecution."

He added, "The Ministry of Justice is indefinitely suspending Prosecutor Park's duties under the pretext of deciding on disciplinary action. If he is dismissed for investigating against the powerful, then no one will be able to investigate those in power anymore."

Joo announced that as the first action of the committee, they would submit a petition to the Ministry of Justice demanding the withdrawal of the indefinite suspension and disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park, stating, "If his disciplinary action is canceled, it will mark the beginning of President Lee's lame-duck period. I urge President Lee to retract the attempt at disciplinary action and promise to face trial before the public."

He also called on the prosecution to appeal the first-instance ruling against former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young. On June 20, the Suwon District Court sentenced Lee to four months in prison for violating the National Assembly testimony and appraisal law related to allegations of a salmon drinking party. He was acquitted of charges related to political fund law violations, and the charges of abuse of authority concerning North Korean support were dismissed.

Joo remarked, "There were some incomprehensible acquittals for Lee Hwa-young, yet there has been no news of an appeal from the prosecution. If they do not want to end up in prison themselves, I hope the prosecution will appeal immediately according to the law and principles."

Vice Chairman Kim Tae-kyu stated, "The attempt to cancel the prosecution and the effort to label the public as criminals by calling them 'mountain bandits' is contradictory. They have lost all sense of balance. If they continue with this attitude, it is more appropriate to describe their actions as those of mountain bandits."