Presidential Office Calls Political Interpretation of Ruling Party's Special Prosecutor Nomination Dispute "Inappropriate"

Presidential Office: "Special Prosecutor Selection Was a Decision Based on Multiple Factors"
Wave of Criticism Emerges Within the Democratic Party of Korea
Lee Sungyoon, Who Recommended the Special Prosecutor: "I Take Full Responsibility"

The presidential office stated that it is "considered inappropriate to attach political interpretations or significance" to President Lee Jaemyung appointing a nominee recommended by the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, rather than one recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea, as the second comprehensive special prosecutor.

Yonhap News Agency

An official from the presidential office told reporters on the 8th that "the selection of the special prosecutor was a decision made after comprehensively considering various factors," presenting this position.

On the 5th, President Lee appointed lawyer Kwon Changyoung of the law firm Jipyung as the second comprehensive special prosecutor. The Democratic Party of Korea had put forward lawyer Jeon Juncheol, who had served as a prosecutor for 16 years, as its candidate for special prosecutor, but President Lee chose lawyer Kwon instead. Lawyer Kwon will investigate additional suspicions that emerged in the course of the three special investigations (the insurrection, the Kim Keonhee case, and the death of a Marine in the line of duty).

The controversy intensified on the 7th after reports emerged that President Lee had been displeased that the Democratic Party recommended lawyer Jeon, who had defended former Ssangbangwool Group Chairman Kim Sungtae in the 2023 trial over the "illegal remittance to North Korea" case. Park Honggeun, a pro-Lee lawmaker of the Democratic Party, criticized on social media (SNS), writing, "Is the party leadership in its right mind to present to the president as a special prosecutor candidate a former prosecutor-turned-lawyer who sided with the prosecution's attempt to politically kill Lee Jaemyung?" He added, "Representative Jeong Cheongrae must promptly clarify the facts, including how this recommendation came about, and hold those responsible strictly accountable."

Supreme Council member Kang Deukgu also pointed out on SNS, "The fact that the recommendation was made solely by the leadership (?) without consulting the Legislation and Judiciary Committee makes the seriousness of the matter even graver," adding, "Even I, a Supreme Council member, did not know about it; how can we call this a 'government-party-presidential office' one-team?" He further said, "I cannot help but ask Representative Jeong why such things keep happening repeatedly." Supreme Council member Hwang Myungseon said, "If the recommendation of the special prosecutor candidate bypassed the Supreme Council and was made without consultation with members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is a warning that the party's decision-making system has collapsed," stressing, "The circumstances of the recommendation and the reasons for bypassing the Supreme Council and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee must be clearly disclosed, and those responsible must be strictly disciplined."

Supreme Council member Lee Sungyoon of the Democratic Party, who recommended lawyer Jeon, moved to contain the fallout. On Facebook, Lee wrote, "With regard to the recommendation of lawyer Jeon, I am fully responsible for the fact that unnecessary controversy has arisen," and explained, "I was asked to recommend candidates for special prosecutor, so I recommended two people, and one of them was lawyer Jeon." He also said, "Lawyer Jeon was a principled and competent prosecutor who was persecuted under the Yoon Sukyeol administration because he worked with me on investigations such as the 'Kim Keonhee stock price manipulation case'," and he posted lawyer Jeon's statement as well. In his statement, lawyer Jeon said, "The part of the case for which I provided defense concerned personal embezzlement and breach of trust by Ssangbangwool executives and employees, and it was completely unrelated to the remittances to North Korea."

The second comprehensive special investigation will additionally probe suspicions such as the "Noh Sangwon notebook," which the three special investigations have not been able to address. The investigation period is up to 170 days, including a 20-day preparation period. The number of dispatched prosecutors may reach up to 251.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.