You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 628

You Have Been Defended – Episode 628 (628/641)

Secretary Oh went silent for a moment upon seeing the swarm of reporters.

He seemed to be contemplating how to respond.

Meanwhile, his phone began to ring incessantly.

Of course, his publicly known phone was ringing, but even the other phone he had prepared for smooth communication with team members like Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon was going crazy.

“Chief Cha…”

─ Hey! Cha, you lawyer!

─ Ah, what do you mean, Lawyer Cha? You should say Special Prosecutor Cha. Hey, Special Prosecutor Cha!

As soon as he answered, the excited voices of Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun poured out.

His ears rang so much that he felt like he had momentarily lost his hearing.

─ Congratulations, Special Prosecutor Cha!

─ Congratulations!

“Why are you acting surprised when you already knew?”

─ Still! I didn’t know the public would support you this much! Wow, the youngest special prosecutor title is so cool. Don’t you think?

─ It is cool. Don’t forget about us, Special Prosecutor Cha! Huh? You have to come on our broadcast later, okay?

“Why would I forget you two?”

─ And don’t forget to treat us.

“What’s this? Why are you suddenly offering to buy us meat?”

─ I know, right? Is he acting a little strange because he’s too happy?

“…I became a special prosecutor with the help of many people, including you two, so I should treat you.”

─ Hyung [older brother or respected male figure], I’m getting a little emotional.

─ Me too. My throat’s a bit choked up. Bong-joon, is that a tear?

Their fussing made him sigh involuntarily.

Just then, Secretary Oh gestured with a chopping motion to his neck, signaling him to hang up the phone.

At the same time, he pointed outside, indicating that he needed to go out quickly.

“I have to hang up now because the reporters are waiting.”

─ Okay, okay. We’ll just hug each other and cry a little. Let me know where we’re eating the beef.

As soon as he hung up, Secretary Oh held the phone in front of his face.

When he looked at him with a questioning expression, Secretary Oh said urgently,

“They’re going to film a video, so at least check your appearance like this…”

“People aren’t that interested in the appearance of a special prosecutor.”

Kang Min-jae clicked his tongue in pity at his answer.

“Well, that’s because there hasn’t been a special prosecutor like you, Attorney. But well, there’s nothing to check separately. The suit is good, the tie color is good too. Perfect hair. Say ‘eee.’ Eeee.”

Kang Min-jae opened his mouth, showing his teeth as he spoke.

“Why that now?”

“What if you have something stuck in your teeth?”

“I don’t.”

“How do you know that, Attorney?”

“I brushed my teeth after lunch, and I haven’t eaten anything since then.”

“If you’re embarrassed, I’ll turn around, so take a look.”

His surroundings had always been full of people who were never outdone when it came to making a fuss, but it seemed to be getting worse.

He ignored Kang Min-jae’s words and stood up.

The fact that the reporters revealed their presence as soon as the Blue House spokesperson called his name meant one thing.

Whether the information was leaked from somewhere, or they judged that he would be appointed, they had been here in advance.

Since he had lunch delivered, he had no reason to look outside the building except when he came to work today.

He didn’t know so many people had gathered.

“I’ll open the door for you. They must have been waiting a long time.”

At his words, Secretary Oh jumped up and approached the door.

He seemed to be talking to the reporters, then gestured at him.

He stepped out of the office, and as soon as he did, a barrage of flashes erupted.

“You have been appointed as the special prosecutor for this Wooshin special investigation. Please tell us your determination!”

The reporters brought a clump of microphones close to him and asked.

Lee Se-hwa had told him to prepare for an interview, but no matter how he thought about it, what he could say in a situation like this was ultimately predetermined.

“I will investigate rigorously and judge objectively according to the law. I will root out those who abuse the power given to them by the people and those who use them to satisfy their personal desires, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that they receive due punishment.”

“You have become the youngest special prosecutor with the overwhelming support of the people. What are your thoughts on this?”

“I am aware that the public is concerned about the appointment of a young lawyer as special prosecutor. I will listen to the words of the people and the advice of my seniors and juniors, and I will commit to uncovering the truth according to the law and principles.”

After that, the interview continued with trivial content.

There were positive questions and negative questions, but the best policy in these situations is not to answer at length.

After the interview, he no longer stayed at the company.

According to the Special Prosecutor Act, there is a 20-day preparation period until the signboard is raised [until the special investigation officially begins].

The most urgent thing now is the appointment of three special prosecutor assistants.

He must narrow down six candidates and request the President to appoint three of them.

Considering 10 dispatched prosecutors and 50 special investigators, the decision must be made quickly.

A special investigation team that starts off on the wrong foot will lose credibility.

* * *

As soon as the Blue House spokesperson announced his appointment as special prosecutor, the media began to pour out articles.

[Lee Se-hwa Government’s Special Prosecutor Appointment ‘There’s a Limit to Being Unconventional’]

Special Prosecutor Cha Joo-han (hereinafter referred to as Special Prosecutor Cha) is a graduate of the 29th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute [a prestigious institution for training judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in South Korea]. His classmates are currently serving as research officers and deputy chiefs at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. Although Special Prosecutor Cha showed remarkable capabilities from his early days as a prosecutor, it is an absurdly junior class compared to previous special prosecutors who mostly had experience as chief prosecutors or court presidents.

It is expected that there will be great difficulties in appointing special prosecutor assistants (hereinafter referred to as special prosecutor assistants). In reality, the prosecution is still strongly influenced by the old Prosecutors’ Office Act, which is the principle of prosecutorial unity [a hierarchical system where senior prosecutors have authority over junior prosecutors]. There is also a practice of senior prosecutors resigning en masse when a junior prosecutor is promoted to prosecutor general.

This time, it is not the appointment of a prosecutor general but a special prosecutor, so there will be no mass resignation of senior prosecutors. However, in a prosecutorial organization that values the class of the training institute to this extent, senior prosecutors are predicted by the legal community to be reluctant to be dispatched to the special investigation team. Not only dispatched prosecutors but also the appointment of special prosecutor assistants is facing difficulties from the start.

The special prosecutor assistant is the special prosecutor’s aide and must manage and supervise dispatched prosecutors and special investigators according to the special prosecutor’s instructions. Even if a senior lawyer accepts the position of special prosecutor assistant, Special Prosecutor Cha Joo-han himself is likely to feel burdened to give instructions. It could easily become a ‘puppet special prosecutor.’

That is why the Korean Bar Association (hereinafter referred to as the Bar Association), which has been granted the authority to recommend special prosecutor candidates several times, has included ‘leadership to lead the special investigation team’ as one of the main virtues in each written recommendation of special prosecutor candidates. And in Korea’s sentiment, this leadership is ultimately linked to the class of the training institute.

Some also believe that the Bar Association is taking cues from the Lee Se-hwa government’s unconventional young personnel appointments.

It remains to be seen how Cha Joo-han will form the special investigation team during the 20-day preparation period. The operation of the special investigation team will have a significant impact on the investigation results.]

Innumerable articles of this kind were produced.

The content is similar, only the format is different.

Among the lawmakers who abstained from voting when the Special Prosecutor Act was brought to a vote in the plenary session, some openly gave interviews saying that ‘the appointment of Cha Joo-han as special prosecutor is absurd.’

Of course, he would have been criticized by the public even if he had spoken the truth because of his actions.

This kind of public opinion was mainly formed by media companies that subtly defended Wooshin or nitpicked at Kim Mi-ja’s method of exposure, saying it was violent or tiring to watch.

Of course, even media outlets that were not like that often published articles expressing concern about whether the special investigation team would operate normally.

In other words, it was a protest saying, ‘It’s good that a special investigation is being conducted, but why Cha Joo-han of all people?’

There was a lot of support, but the voices of concern could not be ignored.

In the end, this was the task given to him.

* * *

The Blue House had already made a public statement that strong punishment was needed for the human trafficking and sexual bribery that Wooshin and political figures had been carrying out using the children of Angel House.

Lee Se-hwa needed to show through her actions how much attention she was paying to this matter as president.

So, she scheduled a visit to the most clean and exemplary operated orphanage among the orphanages where the children from Angel House had moved.

“There are issues with portrait rights, and the children’s wounds have not yet healed. Please use the press releases that will be distributed later for photos.”

After Lee Se-hwa entered the orphanage, the chief public relations officer told the reporters gathered in front of the orphanage.

The reporters came wanting to capture the president’s external activities on camera, but their real purpose was to question the appointment of Cha Joo-han as special prosecutor, which was announced earlier that day.

They waited outside the orphanage for about four hours while Lee Se-hwa shared chicken with the children of Angel House, cleaned and did laundry, and played board games.

“You’re still here.”

When Lee Se-hwa, who looked somewhat disheveled compared to when she first entered, came out of the orphanage, the reporters swarmed around her like bees.

The chief public relations officer approached Lee Se-hwa and whispered in a low voice.

“They seem to want to ask about the appointment of Special Prosecutor Cha. No matter how much I persuade them, they won’t leave. The public is very interested in this issue, so they are curious about the President’s opinion. How about briefly stating your opinion…”

“I suppose so. It’s okay. It would be heartless to just pass by at a time like this.”

Lee Se-hwa smiled and stood facing the reporters.

As soon as the chief public relations officer told the reporters that they would have a short question time, questions poured out.

“President, you scheduled a visit to one of the orphanages where the children of Angel House moved immediately after the announcement of the special prosecutor’s appointment. Can this be interpreted as giving strength to Special Prosecutor Cha?”

“I thought you would be curious about whether the children’s wounds are healing well and how they are being treated here, but the nature of the questions is a bit different.”

Lee Se-hwa replied with a smile.

“But what you are most curious about is the content of the special prosecutor’s appointment. In fact, the secretariat wrote a model answer in preparation for this Q&A. But I won’t read it. I think it would be better to convey my thoughts as they are.”

Lee Se-hwa handed the paper she was holding to her secretary.

“What I want to make clear is that I would have scheduled the same itinerary even if it wasn’t Special Prosecutor Cha Joo-han. I was curious about how the children of Angel House were doing, and I wanted to instill in them the awareness that the state would protect them. Also, I needed to apologize for the time I couldn’t do that. I don’t want to give strength to Special Prosecutor Cha, but to the special investigation itself.”

“Still, I think you are well aware that there are concerns about Special Prosecutor Cha. I wonder if I can ask you why you chose Special Prosecutor Cha even though you expected public opinion?”

When a reporter asked a question, Lee Se-hwa answered without hesitation.

“The most important criterion I used to select the special prosecutor was one thing: someone who will do well. It was someone who would not be swayed when the subjects of the investigation attempted to appease or threaten them and who could conduct investigations and maintain prosecutions fairly.”

“Do you think Cha Joo-han is a person who meets those criteria?”

“All of the special prosecutor candidates recommended by the Bar Association were excellent lawyers. However, the subjects of the investigation are people deeply rooted in Korea’s political, official, and business circles. Just as Wooshin made political figures accomplices in extraordinary ways, we don’t know what kind of threats there will be. I judged that the right person was someone who would not be shaken by these threats. Special Prosecutor Cha has proven this most clearly several times through his actions. I think it’s a reasonable decision.”

“There are many concerns about whether Special Prosecutor Cha, who is from the 29th class of the training institute, will be able to operate the special investigation team smoothly. After all, the legal community has a strong class culture. What do you think about this?”

“I was also a lawyer, and I know the culture that dominates the legal community well. In particular, the prosecution has a strong class culture, and there are articles about the prosecution’s resignation practices because of the selection of 10 dispatched prosecutors.”

Lee Se-hwa soon continued.

“The special investigation has a strong independent character. It is not an organization under the prosecution. Above all, the special investigation team is disbanded when the case is closed. The resignation practice is a wrong analogy. I fully understand the concern that juniors may feel burdened to exercise command, but I would like to say that there is a value that takes precedence over such personal feelings in the special investigation.”

In fact, there was much more she wanted to say.

If she were a member of the National Assembly instead of the president, she would have said it more explicitly.

But Lee Se-hwa barely held back.

“I have a fundamental question. Is the class culture of a particular occupational group that is not designated by statutory law important, or is the constitution that guarantees the people’s human rights important? Is the legal community’s class culture above the constitution?”

“…….”

“The top priority is to investigate fairly, objectively, and independently and to punish criminals. Is there any reason to hesitate?”

Lee Se-hwa’s cool answer seemed to leave the reporters speechless for a moment.

But only for a moment, one reporter asked a question.

“Then, how would you interpret it if there is a problem with the selection of Special Prosecutor Cha’s special investigation team?”

“This is a special investigation that was started to correct the justice of our society by the order of the people. The lawyers I saw in the field had a stronger desire for justice than anyone else. I don’t think that has changed now.”