Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Justice Ministry said regarding the prosecution's decision to drop its appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal that he "did not oppose an appeal and did not discuss this with the presidential office." On calls for his resignation, he said they were "not desirable."
The Minister appeared at the full session of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget & Accounts on the morning of the 12th and, to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Bae Jun-young asking "why did you oppose an appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal," answered, "I did not oppose it." He then answered "there is no such fact" to the question "did you order the appeal to be dropped," adding, "If I had intended to direct it, I would have done so in writing."
When Bae asked, "Have you ever directly or indirectly discussed this case with the president or staff of the presidential office," he answered, "We do not discuss cases with the presidential office at all."
He also answered "there is no such fact" to the question, "It is said the Justice Ministry Vice Minister told Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok that since the Minister can exercise the right to direct investigations, he should drop the appeal at his discretion; did you instruct the Vice Minister to do this?"
When Bae said, "There is public opinion that the Minister should take full responsibility and resign; please state your position," Minister Jung said, "I have no intention of avoiding political responsibility," but added, "It is not desirable for a Minister to take responsibility and resign over a single investigation that is a kind of political retaliation under the previous administration."
On backlash within the prosecution over the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal, he said, "It is not desirable for chief prosecutors to collectively express their views regarding whether to appeal in individual cases."
He continued, "There are many more serious cases. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on trial as the ringleader of an insurrectionary emergency martial law, had his detention canceled in a way completely contrary to practice, and yet those people said nothing," adding, "If frontline prosecutors have opinions (regarding the decision to drop the appeal), that is a matter to be handled internally, and I think collective statements are not good for the development of the prosecution."
In particular, when Bae claimed that "the suspect at the apex of the Daejang-dong development scandal is President Lee Jae-myung," Minister Jung pushed back, calling it a "one-sided claim."
Regarding criticism that the decision to drop the appeal eliminated the chance to recover about 740 billion won in criminal proceeds, he dismissed it by saying, "The claim that it exceeds 700 billion won is the prosecution's assertion." He went on, "What became the issue in the investigation and indictment of this case was not what revenue the suspects obtained, but the focus on their connection to President Lee Jae-myung," adding, "So the investigation into the amount of criminal damage and the amount of breach-of-duty kickbacks was insufficient, and the court also found the proof lacking in that respect. It was judged to be unclear."
Minister Jung added, "About 200 billion won has been seized or preserved, and the Seongnam Development Corporation is also filing (civil) lawsuits," and said, "We plan to actively support the effort so that, to the maximum extent proven, assets can be secured at least through civil litigation."
During a break in the budget committee, Minister Jung met reporters at the National Assembly and, to a question to the effect that "there is also criticism that telling the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to review prudently feels like external pressure," answered, "What external pressure could there be? It is something said in the ordinary course."