Song urges Lee to rule out prosecution withdrawal

Apr 07, 2026, 03:33 pm

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Song Eon-seok speaks at a floor leaders’ meeting at the National Assembly / Yonhap News

Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, on April 7 called on President Lee Jae-myung to publicly declare that there will be no withdrawal of prosecution during his term.

Speaking at a floor leaders’ meeting at the National Assembly, Song said, “I strongly demand that the president declare to the public that there will be no cancellation of prosecution within his term,” adding that the current situation amounts to undermining the national criminal justice system.

He criticized what he described as efforts to interfere with legal processes for personal benefit, warning that such actions could be recorded in history as a “pro-government coup” under the Lee administration.

Song also took issue with the Ministry of Justice’s decision on April 6 to suspend prosecutor Park Sang-yong from duty, calling it “an unconstitutional personnel measure” that violates the constitutional principle of guaranteeing public officials’ status.

Referring to the alleged North Korea remittance case, Song said, “The essence of the case is simple,” noting that former Gyeonggi Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young was found guilty in both lower courts and received a final sentence of seven years and eight months by the Supreme Court for conspiring in an $8 million transfer to North Korea involving the Ssangbangwool Group.

He further criticized claims that the case was fabricated, saying, “Despite court rulings that certain claims were false, the National Intelligence Service has begun asserting them as facts,” calling the situation “a frenzy of external pressure on the judiciary and a violation of the Constitution involving all major state institutions.”

Meanwhile, regarding a planned meeting between President Lee and ruling and opposition party leaders on economic issues, Song stressed that it should not be used as a mere political event to pass a supplementary budget.

“For the consultative body on people’s livelihood and the economy to function effectively, cooperation between ruling and opposition parties is essential,” he said, urging the ruling Democratic Party to move away from unilateral legislative actions and embrace a more cooperative approach.

#Song Eon-seok #Lee Jae-myung #People Power Party #prosecution case withdrawal