Seoul: The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday condemned a group of prosecutors who took issue with the prosecution's recent decision not to appeal a high-profile development corruption case linked to President Lee Jae Myung, dismissing claims of government interference. The DP rejected the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s claim that Lee had any role in the prosecution's decision not to file the appeal by last Friday's deadline, which drew allegations of government interference from PPP lawmakers and even backlash from within the prosecution.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in a rare move, 18 prosecutors issued a statement on Monday protesting against the decision, asking acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok to provide a detailed explanation as to why he instructed the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office to review its decision to appeal. In a Facebook post, DP Rep. Jo Seoung-lae called the prosecutors' move an act of insubordination by "political prosecutors" closely aligned with former President Yoon Suk Yeol, describing the PPP as "perfectly obedient to the prosecution like Pavlov's dog."
In a KBS radio interview, Rep. Seo Young-kyo also denounced the prosecutors' move as an act of "revolt." "It is time for the prosecutors to reflect and look back on their own actions, not to engage in collective action," she said. Other DP lawmakers pointed out that the development corruption case itself was politically motivated.
The PPP has denounced the prosecution's decision, staging rallies in front of the Supreme Prosecutors Office and calling for Lee's impeachment. The development corruption case centers on allegations that a small number of unheard-of private asset management companies, including Hwacheon Daeyu, were allowed to reap astronomical investment profits from a real estate development project in Seongnam's Daejang-dong district in 2015, when Lee was the city's mayor.
Lee stood trial on charges of inflicting losses to Seongnam Development Corp., which was in charge of the project, before a court indefinitely postponed his trial following his presidential election victory in June. In a separate trial, however, a district court sentenced Yoo Dong-gyu, former acting president of Seongnam Development Corp., and Kim Man-bae, a major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, to eight-year prison terms each on charges, including breach of duty, on Oct. 31. Three other suspects were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to six years.
With the prosecution's decision to forgo the appeal, the appellate court cannot impose a heavier sentence than that handed down by the lower court, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act.