Jang Kyung-tae strongly protests indictment on sexual misconduct charges: “A delayed, shoddy indictment by the old prosecution service”

[Financial News] Independent lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae, who is accused of sexually assaulting a female aide, strongly protested the Prosecution Office’s decision to indict him without detention, calling it “a delayed, shoddy, face-saving indictment by the old prosecution service.”

In a statement posted on his Facebook page on the 30th, Jang said, “As expected, the prosecution has not changed.” Regarding the indictment, which came about seven months after police referred the case, he said, “I submitted far more evidence to the prosecution than to the buck-passing police, but in the end, it was a ‘predetermined’ indictment.” He strongly criticized it as “a shoddy indictment that failed to conduct investigations essential to uncovering the substantive truth and did not properly secure evidence, including by examining the original video.”
He also questioned the meeting held at the Seoul Southern District Prosecution Office on the 20th, saying, “I cooperated fully and explained the facts of the case and the evidence one by one, but today, just ten days later, they hurriedly decided to indict me.” He asked, “Was the meeting merely a staged formality to make it look as though proper procedures had been followed?”
Jang said, “In effect, throughout the whole process, I was the one receiving tips, investigating, and handing over evidence.” He added, “I haven’t even disclosed the decisive evidence yet. I will challenge every aspect of this injustice in court, prove that I was falsely accused and am innocent, and hold them accountable to the end for this excessive indictment.”

On this day, the Women and Children Crimes Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecution Office, headed by Chief Prosecutor Lee Ju-hyeon, indicted Jang without detention on charges including quasi-indecent assault and violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (including provisions on confidentiality).
Jang is accused of sexually assaulting A, a female aide from another lawmaker’s office, while they were having dinner at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, around October 2024. The allegations came to light after B, a former partner of a member of Jang’s staff, filmed the inside of the restaurant on a cellphone and tipped off media outlets.
On March 27, after the Investigation Review Committee adopted a resolution recommending indictment, police referred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecution Office. The Southern District Prosecution Office later took over the case due to a jurisdictional issue and continued the investigation. The Prosecution Office said, “Based on the police investigation records, we reviewed footage recorded by an eyewitness at the scene and obtained additional evidence, including relevant call recordings and KakaoTalk message histories. We made our decision after a thorough supplementary investigation and legal review.”
Meanwhile, Jang, who categorically denies the allegations, has taken legal action by filing a counter-complaint against victim A for false accusation and against tipster B on charges including false accusation, assault, and violating the Protection of Communications Secrets Act. Jang left the Democratic Party of Korea, then his party, on March 20, just before the committee’s resolution to refer the case. The party imposed disciplinary action equivalent to expulsion on him last April.
[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter