Around Choo Mi-ae's 'Determined Remarks' on Yoon Seok-yeol... Political Circles in Heated Debate

Chairman Kim Jong-in "Undermining Democratic Principles... Tyranny of the Majority"
Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong "Choo's Vulgar Expression... Dismiss Immediately"
Democratic Party Rep. Kim Nam-guk "Ignoring Minister's Words... Agree with Minister Choo's Remarks"
Democratic Party Rep. Hong Ik-pyo "Contravening Administrative System... Minister's Command Is Natural"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] Since Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's 'deliberate remarks' directed at Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol became known, controversy has intensified in the political sphere. The opposition coalition criticized Minister Choo's remarks as inappropriate and even called for her dismissal. On the other hand, the ruling party defended Minister Choo, emphasizing that Prosecutor General Yoon is disobeying her instructions.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, criticized Minister Choo's remarks on the 26th, saying, "The people did not give the ruling party 177 seats to destroy the basic principles of democracy. Damaging democracy with a majority of seats goes against the spirit of our constitution."

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 25th, Minister Choo attended the Democratic Research Institute's 'First-term Lawmakers Innovation Forum' and said, "The Prosecutor General disobeyed my instructions and cut them in half. If he had humbly listened to the minister's words, things would have gone smoothly, but he complicated matters by acting as if he was in command."

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, relaying Chairman Kim's remarks, told reporters at the National Assembly communication office, "The Republic of Korea is a nation of law, and we implement democracy that supplements the principle of majority rule with liberal rights to prevent it from becoming tyranny. However, Minister Choo's remarks show nothing more or less than the tyranny of the majority, which is why Chairman Kim said this." She added, "Please clarify whether the sincere intention was to properly investigate the living power a year ago, or if the President Moon Jae-in meant that if instructions were followed well, things would go smoothly but they were cut off." She criticized, "If you trust Minister Choo, then dismiss Prosecutor General Yoon. Please do not allow confusion in democracy to persist."

Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Province and a potential opposition presidential candidate, also criticized Minister Choo on Facebook, saying, "'Acting as if in command' and 'cutting off' are vulgar expressions I thought were only used in North Korea, but I never imagined hearing them from the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea." He added, "I recognized this from when she said in January that he 'disobeyed my order.' I have never seen a Minister of Justice like this. It is a disgrace to the Republic of Korea." He raised his voice, saying, "Because of Minister Choo, the national dignity of Korea and the dignity of the administration are plummeting. It is an insult to our people. Dismiss her immediately."

Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People's Party, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting, "It is truly unbearable to see the Minister of Justice casually evaluating the Prosecutor General at a meeting of lawmakers from a specific party with such frivolity and flippant language." She added, "When there is a frivolous, flippant, and authoritarian minister, the employees of that ministry endure each day by reminding themselves, 'This too shall pass.' The Ministry of Justice and the prosecution must also be full of 'This too shall pass'."

On the other hand, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk joined the criticism of Prosecutor General Yoon and defended Minister Choo. On the same day, appearing on KBS radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strong Current Affairs,' he said, "I have no choice but to agree with Minister Choo's words. She specifically instructed to assign the case to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Division regarding the coercive investigation allegations against former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, but this was ignored, and instead, the head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Supervision Division and the human rights supervisor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office were instructed to collaborate." He added, "In fact, it is not that the Minister of Justice's words were cut in half, but that her instructions were completely ignored and disobeyed."

Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ik-pyo also appeared on YTN radio's 'No Young-hee's Start of the Morning' and said, "Given the nature of prosecution work, it is natural to guarantee independent neutrality in their duties, but not following the instructions of the Minister of Justice goes against the administrative system." He added, "It is perfectly natural for the Minister of Justice to command the Prosecutor General."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.