Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice said the case of the "alleged cover-up in the West Sea civil servant shooting" was "a textbook example of a political retaliation investigation." Meeting reporters at the Ministry of Justice at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the afternoon of the 2nd, Minister Jung said, "I have no plan to direct the investigation regarding whether to appeal," and stated accordingly.
Regarding the starting point of the investigation, the Minister said, "Isn't it clear this was a highly orchestrated investigation intended to overturn various measures taken at the time within the president's authority?" He added that whether to appeal "is a matter the prosecution should judge internally," and said it should also be considered that the National Intelligence Service has withdrawn its complaint and is saying, in effect, that "what was said at the beginning was distorted and was fabricated."
On Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae criticizing the indictment as overreaching, he assessed it as "not pressure but the kind of thing a politician can say." Still, he drew a line again, saying, "My principle is not to direct specific cases."
Referring to the controversy over giving up an appeal in the Daejang-dong development scandal, the Minister also said, "When I said to review prudently, people made a fuss saying I meant not to do it." He added that regarding this case, "Other than being briefed on the result, I have not said a single word."
Regarding the investigation team's claim that an appeal is necessary, the Minister said, "I have not officially heard from the investigation team that they will appeal." He added, "Seeing the investigation team's views and the trial team's views getting out before the minister even knows, it seems the prosecution is a mess," and said, "How did the prosecution in Korea end up like this?"
On the bereaved families' backlash, he added, "You have to look from the defendant's standpoint. Imagine you are the defendant. I feel wronged too," while also saying, "Isn't it natural for the bereaved families to be dissatisfied with the verdict?"
The deadline to appeal is 12 a.m. on the 3rd, and the prosecution is expected to decide on the 2nd whether to appeal.