South Korea’s Democratic Party reiterated that it will file a complaint under the Information and Communications Network Act against reporter Jang In-su over his allegation of a so-called presidential “prosecution-dismissal” deal.
Kim Hyun, chair of the party’s Public Communication Committee, made the announcement on the 13th during a weekly briefing at the National Assembly. Earlier, party leader Jeong Cheong-rae told a party meeting on the 12th that rumors about a prosecution-dismissal arrangement were spreading without basis. “This is not Yoon Suk Yeol’s prosecutorial dictatorship, and it’s unthinkable under the Lee Jae-myung administration, which is the most democratic,” Jeong said, adding that the party would use every available means to respond forcefully.
On the 10th, Jang In-su told the YouTube program Kim Eo-jun’s Modesty Is Hard News Factory that a senior government official, whom he described as extremely close to the president, had relayed a message to several high-ranking prosecutors. “My words are the president’s will. I only do what the president tells me,” Jang quoted the official as saying, and added that the official conveyed a request to drop prosecutions to multiple senior prosecutors. He argued that the prosecution would interpret the message as an attempt by the Lee Jae-myung administration to cut a deal. Jang did not identify the official or explain how the message was passed.
Kim also addressed a video titled The Democratic Spirit That Libak School Never Knew, which appeared in January on the late former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s social media account. “Hacking another person’s social media account is a clear criminal act and a grave insult that damages the deceased’s honor. The Public Communication Bureau is carefully verifying the facts and will take necessary action based on its findings,” he said.
Kim concluded by asking the public to join in a sincere memorial for the late Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s 49th-day rites, to be held on Saturday, March 14, honoring his lifelong commitment to the advancement of Korean democracy.
