Will Kim Hak-eui and Jang Ja-yeon Case Receive Special Prosecutor?

In a recent poll, about 70 percent of respondents said they are in favor of an independent counsel to uncover the truth behind former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui's alleged 'separate sexual favors' and the late Jang Ja-yeon's case.

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According to a nationwide survey conducted by Real Meter on behalf of Oh My News on Wednesday of 502 adults aged 19 or older, 71.7 percent said they were in favor of the introduction of an independent counsel because of 'the involvement of the privileged class and the state of the investigation agency's cover-up and reduction'.

17 percent were against it because they deemed it enough with police and prosecutor investigations.

11.3 percent responded with 'unsure'.

The results of the investigation are believed to be due to the prosecution's acquittal of former Vice Minister Kim Hak-eui's alleged 'sexual entertainment' and the lack of trust in existing investigative agencies, including the alleged collusion between Burning Sun and the police.

A good portion of public opinion favored independent counsel in almost all ideological orientations, including conservatives, political party supporters, age and regions.

In particular, more than 90 percent were those who support the Justice Party (93.6 percent in favor 2.2 percent against), the Minjoo Party (92.3 percent in favor, 15.8 percent against), and the liberals (91.4 percent in favor 4.4 percent against).

Supporters of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (39.2 percent in favor and 38.5 percent in opposition) were at odds.

By region, Gwangju, Jeolla recorded 79.2% in favor 13.6% in opposition, Seoul 79.0% in favor 11.6% in opposition, Gyeonggi and Incheon 16.1% in favor 16.1% in opposition, Daejeon, Chungjung, Sejong 72.0% in favor 17.3% opposition and Busan, Kyungnam and Ulsan 66.1% in favor 17.7% in opposition.

Daegu and Gyeongbuk had the lowest approval rating of 46.9 percent, nearly 20 percent higher than the 27.0 percent who voted against it.

By age, those in their 30s recorded the highest approval rate with 87.1 percent, followed by those aged 19-29 with 81.8 percent, those in their 40s with 76.1 percent and those in their 50s with 70.9 percent. More than half, or 52.6 percent, of those aged 60 and older also expressed their support, double the 25.9 percent against it.

The survey was compiled using a combination of wireless dial-up (10%), automatic response (ARS) and wireless (70%), wired lines (20%) and wireless network (RDD) methods. Statistical corrections were made at the end of January 2019, according to gender, age and territory based on the Ministry of Public Administration and Security's resident registration demographics, with the sampling error of ±4.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.