Politicos Passing Half-Formed Suspicions On to Prosecution

Assistant Prosecutor General Park Han-cheol (photo) of the Seoul Central District Public Prosecutor’s Office has come out with pointed criticism at politicians who raise various rash suspicions and pass on the responsibility of resolving them to the prosecution.

Park’s post requires him to oversee the three divisions of special investigations, narcotics and organized crime, and financial investigations, and to direct the prosecution’s activities on extensive and serious cases of suspicion. At present, he is leading the investigation on the Korea Highway Corporation’s investment into the Haengdam Island development project, following the investigation on Korail’s involvement in the Russian oil field development project.

At an unofficial briefing on July 13, Park remarked that “the political community has repeatedly raised serious suspicions, then shirked them onto the prosecution to deal with as best we can.”

“Such suspicions must first go through a parliamentary investigation or the National Assembly for discussion regarding attendant policy problems and alternatives, so that only their judicial handling is transferred to the prosecution,” he emphasized. “Bringing up half-formed suspicions for the prosecution to sort out, then condemning us when we come up with investigation results… How irresponsible is that?”

He appeared firm and determined in directing his censure at politicians.

“Such practices have been repeated for years, throughout various administrations, preventing our society from evolving to a more sophisticated level. Once the prosecution is done with its investigation, a tremendous amount of money and manpower is poured into another investigation by a special prosecutor. I don’t see how this could be the normal operation of any state.”

Park stressed that the political community must determine the appropriateness of policy decisions and inspect the state’s system of governance, and that the prosecution must only be responsible for ensuring the legality of such proceedings.

woogija@donga.com