On the 29th, the special prosecutor for rebellion and People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo engaged in a dispute over a 'witness attendance text message.' After announcing his candidacy for party leader, Ahn said it was 'oppression of the opposition party,' to which special prosecutor Park Ji-young responded, 'It is unacceptable to use the special prosecutor's investigation for political purposes.'

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, holds a press conference on the 29th afternoon at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding the special investigation into insurrection and his declaration of candidacy for party leader, while revealing the attendance request text sent by the special investigation into insurrection. / Courtesy of News1

The incident began with a text message sent by special prosecutor Park Eok-soo to Ahn. The message requested cooperation for a witness investigation regarding the background of many People Power Party lawmakers' absence from the vote on the lifting of martial law and the internal decision-making process of the People Power Party.

In response, Ahn stated at a press conference announcing his candidacy for party leader, 'The special prosecutor for rebellion demanded attendance, claiming there is an investigation into the rebellion,' adding, 'Even I, who opposed the martial law and supported impeachment, received such a text (to be investigated).'

Ahn continued, saying, 'This is an attempt to label the entire People Power Party as a rebellion party,' and 'It can only be interpreted that there is a clear intention to dissolve our party, as claimed by the Democratic Party's candidates for party leader.'

In response, special prosecutor Park Ji-young held an unscheduled briefing. Park stated, 'I requested cooperation for the witness investigation from Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party, but portraying it as oppression of the opposition party, as if the special prosecutor is conducting a political investigation, is unacceptable.' He also remarked, 'We cannot tolerate actions that politically exploit the special prosecutor's investigation.'

However, in the latter part of the briefing, Park mentioned, 'I said that I cannot accept this outburst of anger,' indicating that 'I think we should ask for the deletion of the expression that it is unacceptable.'

In response, reactions emerged from both within and outside the legal community, stating, 'It is undesirable for a special prosecutor's spokesperson to say 'unacceptable' toward the leading opposition party's candidate for party leader during a media briefing.'

A legal expert, who is a former prosecutor's official, stated, 'In the past, prosecutor teams conducting special investigations into major cases meticulously prepared refined expressions before media briefings,' adding, 'The special prosecutor's spokesperson should not use inappropriate expressions out of 'momentary anger.'

Another legal expert mentioned, 'When conducting a strong investigation, it's necessary to consider ways to convey the core message effectively while keeping the briefing as smooth as possible.'

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