Prosecutors assigned to assist with research at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have called on Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok to take responsibility for the decision not to appeal a high-profile corruption ruling involving the Daejang-dong development project.

In a statement on Monday, the research prosecutors said they cannot accept Noh’s explanation that the decision was made in consultation with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and with reference to the Ministry of Justice's opinion, citing discrepancies between the accounts of the investigative team, the Central District Prosecutors’ Office and the ministry.

The prosecutors demanded a clear explanation of why the investigative team’s appeal recommendation was rejected and how the final decision was made.

The research prosecutors also argued that the decision effectively abandoned the prosecution’s core duty to uphold indictments, urged Noh to take appropriate responsibility for the matter and pressed for his resignation.

On Sunday, Noh said that the decision had been made at his direction, after consultation with Jung Jin-woo, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, and that the prosecution had considered the justice ministry’s opinion.  

However, Jung issued a separate statement Sunday, asserting that he had recommended filing an appeal to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office but that the advice had been rejected.