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Jang Ja-yeon Case - Wrongdoings Identified, But Not Even Punished

Even though the Ministry of Justice's Committee of Past Affairs has deliberated a number of meaningful facts in the final results of the Jang Ja-yeon case on the 20th, it didn't lead to the punishment of those involved, hence the assessment, 'half-judgment'.

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It has been verified that Jang Ja-yeon was put through entertainment services and assault. Major suspicions, including the prosecution's poor investigation and the Chosun Ilbo's external pressure campaign, which were lukewarm in uncovering the crime, accord with the facts, but it can't be linked to an investigation.

The committee found that the cases of alcohol-related acts, violence, and threats in the so-called "Jang Ja-yeon list", which triggered the incident, correspond to the facts.

The committee said, "The head of the agency violently exercised his dominant power over the aspiring actress or rookie actor, a key factor that forced the actress to give up her life".

However, there is apparently a lack of evidence to confirm if there was actually any force to provide sexual services and pouring drinks.

It was also concluded that the so-called "list" for names of men who received sexual services, and the alleged rape by special drugs from the claims of Yoon Ji-oh, a witness, were disputable.

Although the charge of rape is drawing attention because the statute of limitations (15 years) remains the only charge of sex crimes, the committee explained that it has yet to confirm whether more than two people colluded with each other or used any drugs.

The statute of limitations has already expired on the charges of forced alcohol entertainment or arranging prostitution, which have been partially recognized as part of the facts.

Many suspicions were also found to be true regarding the prosecution, the police's poor investigation and the Chosun Ilbo's external pressure on the investigation.

The committee strongly criticized the fact that key evidence, including the original phone records and digital forensics analysis, was omitted from the records, saying that even the police and prosecutors who participated in the investigation at the time responded that it was "impossible".

Another result of the investigation is that Chosun Ilbo's social affairs department chief visited the police chief and Gyeonggi Province chief to pressure them not to investigate Chosun Ilbo President Bang Sang-hoon.

However, the part of the Chosun Ilbo's external pressure is not punishable, because the statute of limitations (7 years) has passed.

The committee criticized the prosecution for not conducting any investigation into who Bang Sang-hoon was, failing to identify the son of the Chosun Ilbo's CEO written in the document, and not confirming that he was related to specific crimes.

10 years later today, the passing of the statute of limitations and the inherent constraints of the committee, which does not have the authority to investigate the case, have affected the situation.

"Even if it is impossible to punish high-ranking government officials and those who are powerful in the media and entertainment circles for trampling on a young woman's dream after a long period of time, judgment based on their conscience cannot be avoided", said Jung Han-joong, acting chairman of the committee.

He added that this is a chance to reflect on the investigative agencies and our society's powerful people for our future, not for the past.

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