Yonhap News. The People Power Party criticized the prosecution's decision to waive appeals in a Daejang-dong development corruption case, where defendants received prison sentences in the first trial, calling it "power-driven investigative pressure to shield President Lee Jae-myung."

The People Power Party demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho, a prominent figure within the pro-Lee faction, and a thorough investigation into the full extent of external pressure.

Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk stated on Facebook that "the waiver of appeal would never have happened if President Lee Jae-myung, an accomplice in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, had not become president," and criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "The conflict of interest they constantly accused former President Yoon Suk-yeol of is what this is truly about."

He added, "What should be abandoned is not the appeal, but Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho's investigative authority. The Minister of Justice should have relinquished investigative authority from the outset in a case where the president was indicted as an accomplice, and the fact that the prosecution consulted with the Ministry of Justice on whether to appeal is itself wrong."

Regarding the resignation of Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office Chief Prosecutor Chung Jin-woo a day after the "appeal waiver incident," Jang said, "It's as if the father committed the crime, but the son is going to jail."

Floor Leader Song Eon-seok wrote on Facebook, "There are suspicions of obstruction of investigation and investigative pressure by the Lee Jae-myung administration," calling it a "systemic crime that shakes the nation's judicial system at the presidential level to prevent the punishment of the Daejang-dong development corruption case."

He continued, "A thorough investigation is needed to uncover whether the pressure to prohibit appeals originated from the Minister of Justice or Yongsan," and demanded "the immediate resignation of the Minister of Justice and the acting Prosecutor General."

Rep. Ju Jin-woo, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stated on Facebook, "This is a clear ground for impeachment. Everyone involved in obstructing the submission of the Daejang-dong appeal should be held accountable. No one, including President Lee Jae-myung, Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho, and acting Prosecutor General Roh Man-seok, can be above scrutiny."

He further argued, in relation to President Lee's remarks in late September criticizing the abuse of prosecutorial power, stating that "prosecutors indict baseless cases and then appeal or file further appeals when acquittal is granted, causing suffering to the public," that "accomplice Lee Jae-myung had already issued a public directive, using the public as an excuse, to 'waive appeals if acquitted in the first trial.' This constitutes an abuse of power."

Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon commented, "Justice Minister Chung Sung-ho, the 'leading pro-Lee figure,' blocked the prosecution's appeal to shield President Lee Jae-myung," criticizing it as "an attempt to suppress the case due to political intervention."

Former party leader Han Dong-hoon wrote on Facebook that the prosecution's waiver of appeal meant "the prosecution of the Republic of Korea has committed suicide." He questioned, "What reason is there for the public to oppose the abolition of such a prosecution that waives appeals like dogs upon receiving orders from power?"

Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok also commented on Facebook, stating that "the Daejang-dong case is related to the president, and someone made the prosecutors sheathe their swords. Injustice is flowing like a sewer in the Lee Jae-myung administration."

Yonhap News