The Democratic Party of Korea plans to file a complaint against the prosecutor in charge, alleging that the prosecution investigating Lee Jae-myung, the party's presidential candidate, for corruption concerning the Daejang-dong development manipulated evidence. This incident will serve as a catalyst for them to pursue 'strong prosecutorial reform' once in power. Since their campaign promises already include ▲ separating prosecution investigation and indictment ▲ introducing a system to dismiss prosecutors, the party intends to expedite legal amendments if victorious in the presidential election.
Lee Gun-tae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea's election committee, said at a press conference on that day, 'It has been revealed that the Daejang-dong case involving the candidate is a fabricated case manipulated by the prosecution,' and indicated that they would file a complaint against the prosecutor handling the case with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). The allegations include evidence fabrication and alteration, creation of false official documents, and use of false official documents. The complaint is planned to be filed under the name of Park Chan-dae, acting party leader.
According to the spokesperson, Jeong Young-hak, a key defendant in the Daejang-dong trial, stated during the last trial that 'the prosecution manipulated evidence and during the prosecution's investigation, the prosecutor presented fabricated evidence and coerced false testimony.'
Earlier, the prosecution indicted Jeong and others involved in Daejang-dong on suspicion of undervaluing Daejang-dong land that should have been evaluated at more than 15 million won per pyeong at only 14 million won, thereby causing losses to the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation.
Jeong stated, 'I did not create any Excel file data showing 15 million won per pyeong' and added, 'The prosecution manipulated the Excel file.' Furthermore, he claimed, 'There is no fact that I analyzed the business viability estimating the Daejang-dong land price at 15 million won per pyeong around February 2015' and expressed, 'Trusting the materials presented by the prosecutor led to my incorrect testimony, and I misrepresented my statement in court.'
In other words, Jeong claims that the prosecution arbitrarily entered the number '15 million won per pyeong' into the existing Excel file he had submitted, conducted a separate business viability analysis simulation, and confirmed that a result had been output. The Democratic Party also stated that they would hold the prosecutor responsible for 'evidence manipulation' based on this.
The spokesperson said, 'The prosecution creating fictitious crimes through manipulated investigations is a criminal act that undermines judicial justice and public trust entirely,' and vowed, 'We will report the prosecutor who manipulated evidence immediately, and the Democratic Party will push for strong prosecutorial reform to ensure that such incidents do not recur.'