At the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the ruling party criticizes the 'Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution'... also faces criticism for 'saving Han Myeong-sook'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] At the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting held with only 'half' participation, as the United Future Party did not attend, members of the Democratic Party of Korea and the Open Democratic Party criticized Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol over the 'Han Myeong-suk case.' Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae also agreed and expressed her intention to take corrective action. In response, Kim Do-eup, a member of the United Future Party, criticized the Democratic Party, saying they were "desperate to save Han Myeong-suk."

On the morning of the 18th, Minister Choo attended the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly and responded to a question from Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party of Korea, stating, "The prosecution itself established the rationale for neutrality by appointing an external person as the head of the Inspection Department, and it is unacceptable to undermine that. Corrective measures will be taken."

This statement came after Representative Kim requested action from Minister Choo, saying, "In the case of former Prime Minister Han, the investigation should be entrusted to Han Dong-su, head of the Inspection Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, but (Prosecutor General Yoon) ordered the Central District Prosecutors' Office's Human Rights Supervisor to conduct the investigation." Previously, the prosecution assigned the case related to allegations of coercion of testimony by the investigation team of former Prime Minister Han not to the Inspection Department but to the Human Rights Department, citing that the disciplinary statute of limitations had expired. This has led to criticism that the Inspection Department, led by an external figure, was 'passed over.'

Other members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee also collectively launched a 'prosecution attack' related to the former Prime Minister Han case. Park Beom-gye of the Democratic Party pointed out, "The Human Rights Supervisor is not an organization that investigates prosecutors' misconduct," adding, "If matters that should be inspected are sent to the Human Rights Department, it would hollow out the inspection function." Park Ju-min of the Democratic Party raised his voice, saying that fellow inmates of Han Man-ho, a key witness in the former Prime Minister Han case, were frequently summoned for investigations not only by the department in charge of the case but also by Room 935, the Financial Investigation Department, and emphasized, "There should also be an inspection into why they were called to Room 935."

Some members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee pressed Minister Choo, saying "prosecution reform is delayed." So Byung-chul of the Democratic Party criticized, "The essence of inspection is independence and transparency, but what is happening now is ridiculous. It appears that Minister Choo is hesitating on reform." Song Ki-heon of the Democratic Party also pointed out, "Are prosecutors being tamed? It took two and a half months to seize the mobile phone of a current chief prosecutor involved in the collusion between power and the press." During this process, Minister Choo also retorted, "Do not belittle the seriousness of the work."

Regarding this, Kim Do-eup, who was a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the previous National Assembly, stated in a press release, "The Democratic Party's purpose in seizing the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was ultimately to 'save former Prime Minister Han' through judicial control," and criticized, "Is saving former Prime Minister Han, who was sentenced to prison for illegal political fund receipt, the 'working National Assembly' that the Democratic Party talks about?"

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