Jang Dong-hyeok: "A special prosecutor before an investigation, and a by-election before a special prosecutor"

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[Financial News] People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok renewed his call on the 8th for by-elections in connection with the shortage of ballots, saying, "A special prosecutor comes before an investigation, and a by-election comes before a special prosecutor." His remarks appeared aimed at securing the initiative through a push for a special counsel investigation, as the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is seeking a parliamentary probe.
\rAt a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Jang said, "If they try to conduct a parliamentary investigation into the suspension of Lee Jae-myung's trial the way the DPK wants, by screening witnesses as it pleases and pushing ahead on its own terms, then such an investigation would be pointless. It is absolutely unacceptable." He added that he was making the same point.
\rJang questioned the effectiveness of a DPK-led parliamentary probe. He said, "The DPK is the very party that created the current all-powerful NEC and even pushed a bill that would impose up to 10 years in prison for criticizing the commission." He added, "When the family hiring favoritism scandal broke, the people who rushed to defend the NEC, accusing the People Power Party of demonizing it and attacking Rho Tae-ak, were Lee Jae-myung and the DPK."
\rHe went on to stress, "If you are going to hold a parliamentary investigation, you have to do it properly," adding, "Only if the People Power Party leads it from the chairmanship to the selection of witnesses can it produce results that the public will accept."
\rOn the launch of a joint investigation headquarters of prosecutors and police by order of President Lee Jae-myung, he said, "Using prosecutors who have only four months left in office is nonsense to begin with." He called it "a trick to neutralize the parliamentary investigation and avoid a special prosecutor."
\rJang argued, "This should not be a special prosecutor recommended by the DPK and the Rebuilding Korea Party at Lee Jae-myung's behest. It should be a proper public special prosecutor recommended by the People Power Party." He added, "Anyone who refuses a special prosecutor is an accomplice."
\rHe also said, "The public is demanding by-elections," adding, "No one can count how many people's voting rights were violated, and no one can know which election results were changed as a result."
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haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter