Jung Cheong-rae Calls for Relief for Lee Jae Myung; Lee Says Timing Should Be Deliberated

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\r\n[Financial News] Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stressed the need for a special counsel bill on fabricated prosecutions under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration on the 4th. He said that "ignoring legitimate remedies simply because someone is president goes against the spirit of the Constitution," signaling his intent to seek the dismissal of charges against President Lee Jae Myung. However, Lee himself suggested adjusting the timing of any special counsel push.
At a field meeting of the party's supreme council in Busan Metropolitan City that day, Jung said, "We can no longer stand by as political prosecutors distort the truth and produce more victims of injustice. The special counsel is judicial normalization that corrects the mistakes of the Yoon Suk Yeol prosecution dictatorship," adding, "If there are victims of fabricated indictments, anyone and everyone must be able to find the truth clearly and receive fair compensation."
Referring to the parliamentary inquiry into alleged fabricated prosecution that ended on the 30th of last month, he argued, "It is difficult even to list all the illegal acts committed by prosecutors to create charges against Lee Jae Myung. The cash-for-summit scandal, in particular, is almost laughable." He added, "Not only Lee Jae Myung, but also many others, including lawyer Nam Wook and former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, had their lives torn apart by the prosecution's manipulated investigation."
Because the Democratic Party-led inquiry and special counsel are seen as clearly aimed at dismissing charges against Lee, the opposition has made the issue a major topic ahead of the June local elections. It is accusing the ruling party of stepping in to shield the president and using the move to fuel criticism of the administration. Mayoral and gubernatorial candidates from the People Power Party and the Reform Party (RP) also gathered that day and agreed to resist the special counsel push.
Even within the Democratic Party, some are calling for caution, saying the special counsel should be considered only after the local elections. Lee himself also voiced concerns indirectly. According to a briefing by Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, Lee said on the same day, "It is essential to uncover the truth and restore judicial justice through a special counsel," but added, "As for the specific timing and procedures, I ask the ruling Democratic Party to make its judgment after gathering public opinion and going through a process of deliberation."
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uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter