Kim Jong-min "There Is Opposition to Yoon Seok-yeol Within the Prosecution"

Kim Jong-min, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 6th, Kim Jongmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said regarding the issue of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s protection of his close aides, "There is opposition within the prosecution as well."

In an interview with YTN Radio's 'Noh Young-hee's Start of a New Morning' on the same day, Rep. Kim stated, "From what I heard at the meeting of chief prosecutors, many are worried about the current issue of Prosecutor General Yoon’s protection of his close aides, and there are quite a few chief prosecutors and prosecutors who oppose it."

He continued, "However, when Prosecutor General Yoon convenes the chief prosecutors’ meeting, opinions supporting or defending Yoon are mainly reported in the media rather than opposing views," adding, "This creates the appearance that the entire prosecution is resisting and opposing Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae’s command. Viewing this as politics is wrong politics, politics that should not be done."

Rep. Kim said, "Neither Prosecutor General Yoon nor part of the prosecution can win against the President and the Minister," and argued, "If Minister Choo’s command exists in this matter, it is right to follow that command. We should follow the command while engaging in debate, and if it is unfair, the political arena should debate it."

He added, "Gathering the opinions of chief prosecutors to use that power to confront the Minister or to refuse the Minister’s orders is something that cannot happen in a public service organization."

Regarding Prosecutor General Yoon’s conflicts with former Ministers of Justice Park Sang-ki, Cho Kuk, and current Minister Choo Mi-ae, he pointed out, "The situation does not look good. The confrontation between the three ministers and the Prosecutor General goes against President Moon Jae-in’s command," and said, "Regardless of personal conviction, it is a situation difficult for the people of the Republic of Korea to accept."

He also criticized the United Future Party’s demand for Minister Choo’s impeachment as a "political attack," saying, "Refusing the Minister’s duty to command on behalf of the people just because of differing opinions and attacking it as 'gangster behavior' shakes the constitutional order. The country cannot function this way."

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