Opposition Gathers Over Im Jong-deuk Search.. "Special Prosecutor is Political Retaliation"

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team investigating the suspicion of obstruction in the investigation of the death of Private Chae conducted a search and seizure of the office of Im Jong-deuk, a lawmaker of the People Power Party, on the 11th. This is because Im was serving as the second deputy director of the National Security Office at the time of the Chae incident. In response, lawmakers of the People Power Party gathered at Im's office, protesting that it was political retaliation.
Song Eon-seok, the emergency countermeasures committee chairman and floor leader, requested party lawmakers to gather when the search and seizure of Im's office began, and 23 lawmakers gathered to condemn it. Im, the person involved, was on vacation and could not be present.
Song, the committee chairman, argued, "The investigation is about the situation when Im was working at the Presidential Office, so the search and seizure should be conducted there, not at the lawmaker's office," adding, "Im clearly stated that he would actively cooperate with the special prosecutor's investigation."
He continued, "The search and seizure of Im is a clear suppression of the opposition and political retaliation. Stop the disgraceful opposition suppression and politically motivated search and seizure immediately and withdraw," and warned, "We also sternly warn the National Assembly Secretariat. We will hold them politically accountable for allowing indiscriminate searches and seizures without any conditions or notifications."
Na Kyung-won, a five-term senior lawmaker, stated at the scene about the reason for the lawmakers' gathering, "It's not to physically block," and pointed out, "The special prosecutor is conducting excessive investigations to disgrace, so we demand that it be done according to the law and procedure."
The People Power Party suspects that not only the special prosecutor for the death of Private Chae but also the special prosecutor for Mrs. Kim Geon-hee is taking noticeable actions such as search and seizure and travel bans on party lawmakers with political intent. They believe it is to divert attention as the confirmation hearings for the first ministerial candidates of the Lee Jae-myung government are scheduled to start next week. Previously, the special prosecutor for Kim Geon-hee conducted a search and seizure of lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun's office and imposed a travel ban on lawmaker Kim Seon-kyo.
Park Sung-hoon, the chief spokesperson, said about the discussion among the 23 lawmakers, "There are even suspicions that it is to divert attention from the confirmation hearings," and conveyed, "There is great anxiety and dissatisfaction that all lawmakers of the People Power Party will be targeted for investigation."
He further stated, "We accept it as opposition suppression, and if there is an inappropriate offensive, we will respond with the highest possible measures," but refrained from detailing specific countermeasures.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter