Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, has demanded the resignation of Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho, following the prosecution’s decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, labeling it “a clear case of external pressure.” On the 18th, Jang participated in a protest outside the Government Complex Gwacheon, where the Ministry of Justice is located, criticizing the decision as a mutual agreement for Lee Jae-myung orchestrated by Jeong Seong-ho and Lee Jin-soo. He urged them to step down if they have any sense of shame.
Jang further stated, “Minister Jeong Seong-ho mentioned six years ago that the expression of opinion by the Minister of Justice could itself be an external pressure.” He accused Jeong of exerting pressure on prosecutors to deliberate cautiously despite their opinion that an appeal was necessary, thus constituting clear external interference based on Jeong’s own words.
Jang accused Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo of wielding prosecutorial command authority to intimidate prosecutors, claiming it was also a clear case of external pressure and abuse of authority by both Jeong and Lee.
Additionally, he argued that failing to recover criminal profits amounting to 7.4 billion won showcases another breach of duty, benefiting criminals. He criticized Jeong as being a puppet of President Lee Jae-myung, asserting that Jeong should have relinquished his investigatory authority instead of abandoning the appeal.
Jang called for an immediate national audit and special investigation into the matter, challenging the legitimacy of demoting prosecutors who offered critical opinions. He emphasized the urgency of accepting both the national audit and special investigation.
Meanwhile, the People Power Party continues to hold rallies demanding a national audit and special investigation into the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case. The previous day, they held a press conference in front of the presidential office in Yongsan to call for a national audit to investigate the external pressure related to the case.