The People Power Party raised strong criticism today (19th) that the four special prosecution teams under the Lee Jae-myung administration, embroiled in controversy over insufficient investigative capacity, squandered over 6.4 billion won in taxpayer funds solely on office rental fees, while direct criticism was launched suggesting they "should instead set up offices at the Democratic Party headquarters or the Blue House."

The People Power Party strongly criticized the four special prosecution teams—including the three major special prosecutors for insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and the deceased Marine, as well as the second comprehensive special prosecution that launched under the Lee Jae-myung administration—for lacking investigative capacity while wasting astronomical amounts of taxpayer funds. In particular, these special prosecution teams used a total of 6.461 billion won solely for office rental and interior decoration costs, which accounts for 29.3% of the entire special prosecution budget of 22 billion won.

Specific expenditure details were also disclosed. The Min Jung-ki special prosecution team leased a "ultra-luxury office" in Gwanghwamun and spent 2.365 billion won over six months. The Marine special prosecution team spent 1.886 billion won in just five months at a "prime location building" in Gangnam. The Jo Eun-seok special prosecution team, despite being housed in the government-owned Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building, spent a total of 1.603 billion won including 225 million won for interior decoration costs, while the An Gwon-seop permanent special prosecution team spent 607 million won in real estate-related expenses over three months.

[사진=연합뉴스]

Choi Bo-yoon, the chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, issued a statement today (19th) urging an immediate halt to "politically vindictive special prosecutions and astronomical wastage of taxpayer funds," and harshly criticized, stating "rather than squandering taxes like pocket money, they should just set up special prosecution offices at the Democratic Party headquarters or the Blue House." Earlier, Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok of the People Power Party raised intense criticism regarding this matter on July 13th.

Beyond budget waste, controversy over the political neutrality of the special prosecution has also emerged. Rep. Kim Ki-hyun, a target of the second comprehensive special prosecution's investigation, designated a written parliamentary question inquiring about a floor vote at the National Assembly on allegations of obstructing the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol as "political surveillance," strongly protesting "is this country a security state under Lee Jae-myung?" Rep. Na Kyung-won also raised critical voices against such conduct by the special prosecution.

The People Power Party's pointing out of this "taxpayer waste" and "political surveillance" raises fundamental questions about the raison d'être of the special prosecution and the transparency of its operations. In the current situation where the Democratic Party is pushing for an extension of the second comprehensive special prosecution's investigation period, the People Power Party's intense offensive is expected to further escalate partisan conflict between the ruling and opposition parties over the special prosecution. Going forward, national scrutiny of the special prosecution's investigative achievements and budget execution is expected to intensify, and this is anticipated to emerge as a key issue in the political arena in the latter half of 2026.