Prosecutor's Office Influencing Election?

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Prosecutor's Office Influencing Election?

On March 16, prosecutor, who are investigating offenses with regard to Korea's manditory military service, in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense, announced that 31 young men, whose fathers are politicians, will be summoned before the national general election is held. This reversed the statement of a high-ranking prosecutor that there would not be any one sommoned regarding military service offenses.
One prosecutor explained that this investigation is not related to the national election and added that as the Anti-Corruption Network in Korea accused 119 people, the prosecution would like to utilize additional prosecutors, who do have urgent assignments, in order to conclude the investigation sooner.
He concluded by saying that the two sons of Lee Hui-chang, the president of the Grand National Party, are not involved in military service offenses. However, a few hours later, he changed his statement and said that it may be best if an investigate was held to confirm this fact.
It is reported that among the suspects, accused by the Anti-Corruption Network in Korea, two thirds of the suspects' fathers are current members of the National Assembly, both Grand Natioal Party and United Liberal Democrat members.
Incidentally, on the day of the announcement, two trials concerning former government officials were delayed. One was related to 'Fur gate' which involving Kim Tae-jung, former president of the prosecuters office, and the other was the trial of Park Joo-sun, a former legal secretary of Chung Wa Dae. Their trials will begin after the national election.
It is natural for government organizations to alter the rate of investigation of military service offenses, however, the prosecution's decision does not seem to be fair. In this investigation many politicians of the opposition party are involved, whereas the trail cases, which were delayed, troubled the ruling party.
Therefore, the prosecution office's motive is very suspect, and that it is still trying to assist the ruling party as it usually does before a natonal election.




by Chae Byung-gun

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