Choo Mi-ae: "Yoon Seok-yeol Defied My Orders... Prosecution Personnel Changes Are Routine Regular Appointments"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is leaving the chairman's office after meeting with Yeo Sang-gyu, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae stated that the controversy surrounding the 'prosecutor personnel reshuffle' carried out on the 8th was due to "the Prosecutor General defying my orders."

Minister Choo made this remark on the 9th during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, responding to Rep. Jeong Jeong-sik of the Liberty Korea Party's criticism that she violated Article 34 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, which requires the Prosecutor General's opinion on personnel matters.

In response to Rep. Jeong's follow-up criticism, "Calling the Prosecutor General to the Ministry of Justice 30 minutes before the personnel announcement was merely to finalize and approve the personnel plan," Minister Choo said, "I had already asked for his opinion the day before and had a phone call lasting over an hour to get his input. However, the Prosecutor General made an unprecedented demand, asking to bring the specific personnel plan to a 'third location,' which is neither stipulated by law nor by precedent. This is unacceptable," she rebutted.

Minister Choo also emphasized, "This was a routine regular personnel reshuffle to fill vacancies at the senior prosecutor level caused by resignations or openings and to carry out subsequent transfer measures accordingly. The Ministry of Justice conducted a regular personnel reshuffle."

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