Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice said on the 18th regarding the "prosecution cancellation transaction theory," "There is no such thing at all. I can also disclose the currency records."
The Minister appeared at the National Assembly's The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary meeting that day and, to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun asking, "Have you ever reviewed canceling the prosecution?", said, "I tell you on my honor," and made the above remark.
The prosecution cancellation transaction theory is a controversy sparked when former MBC reporter Jang In-soo said on YouTuber Kim Ou-joon's program that "a senior government official told senior prosecutors to cancel the president's prosecution, saying it was the president's intention."
The Minister said, "Not only some media but also on YouTube, it is said that a senior government official sent messages and made phone calls to senior prosecutors, but none of that is true."
She added, "I don't know how someone misunderstood, but it makes no sense to transact canceling the prosecution in connection with a case related to the president."
The Minister said, "I am also someone who has done quite a bit of politics; why wouldn't I know what problems that would cause?" and called it "a claim with no basis whatsoever."
To a question from People Power Party lawmaker Cho Bae-sook asking, "Will you cancel the prosecution?", the Minister said, "Not once have we internally reviewed canceling the prosecution in a case related to the president, nor have I directed it."
She added, "(Canceling a prosecution) could be directed by the Minister, but it is the prosecutor's authority," and said, "In a state changed to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, wouldn't front-line prosecutors have no reason to do that? And if you look at the current Prosecution Office Act, it is not easy for the Minister to direct an individual case."