Controversy between South Korea's justice ministry and prosecution intensified on November 12 over alleged pressure to forgo appealing a corruption case linked to President Lee Jae-myung. The decision not to appeal the high-profile real estate scandal from Lee's time as Seongnam mayor has sparked internal pushback and suspicions of undue influence. The Seoul Central District chief prosecutor offered to resign, while the opposition demands the justice minister's resignation.
The dispute between South Korea's justice ministry and prosecution escalated in Seoul on November 12, centering on the prosecutors' decision not to appeal a corruption case tied to President Lee Jae-myung's tenure as Seongnam mayor in 2015. The Daejang-dong development scandal involves allegations that obscure private firms, including Hwacheon Daeyu, reaped massive profits from the project, causing losses to the Seongnam Development Corp.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office chief offered to resign amid the backlash, while Acting Prosecutor-General Noh Man-seok has stayed silent despite calls for his resignation. Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho denied any instructions during a National Assembly plenary session, stating, "I did not oppose the appeal." He acknowledged advising the Supreme Prosecutors Office to "decide carefully after considering various circumstances" but refuted claims of prior discussions with the presidential office.
Noh reportedly told prosecutors in a meeting that Vice Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo presented "several choices" on the appeal, all amounting to one option; Lee denied this. Jung insisted such remarks do not constitute pressure, calling them "something we say all the time." The appeal deadline was last Friday.
The main opposition People Power Party demanded Jung's resignation and clarification from the presidential office on suspected involvement. In a related trial, former Seongnam Development Corp. acting president Yoo Dong-gyu and Hwacheon Daeyu shareholder Kim Man-bae each received eight-year sentences for breach of duty on October 31, with three others getting four to six years. Lee's own trial was indefinitely postponed after his June presidential victory.
