Choo Facing Four Days of Intense Offensive... Breakthrough Strategy 'Prosecution Reform'

Despite Apologizing the Day Before, Public Opinion Remains Unmoved... "Determined to Complete Prosecution Reform"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae will attend her second government inspection session since taking office. During the first government inspection session in March, Minister Choo withstood the opposition party's relentless attacks by emphasizing the prosecutorial reform framework, and this time she has effectively declared a frontal breakthrough. With allegations not only about her son's special military leave but also about requests and external pressure, attention is focused on any additional statements from Minister Choo.

According to the Ministry of Justice on the 14th, Minister Choo will attend the National Assembly's political sector government inspection session in the afternoon. Although Minister Choo is scheduled to appear only on the 14th and 17th (education, society, culture) during the government inspection sessions planned until the 17th, it is expected that the National Assembly will proceed without Minister Choo on the 15th (foreign affairs, unification, security) and 16th (economy).

Minister Choo already attempted to calm public opinion before the start of the government inspection session through Facebook the day before, saying, "I am truly sorry to the people." Although this was her first statement in nine months and failed to change the atmosphere, she clearly rejected calls for resignation from the opposition by stating, "I will definitely complete prosecutorial reform."

Previously, Minister Choo employed a similar strategy during the first government inspection session in March and endured the attacks. At that time, despite criticisms regarding the ban on Chinese entry related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the large-scale personnel reshuffle immediately after taking office, and conflicts with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl during personnel consultations, she emphasized the 'prosecutorial reform' framework and passed through more quietly than expected.

The strategy chosen this time also appears to be 'prosecutorial reform.' The day before, Minister Choo said, "I believe that fulfilling my responsibilities unwaveringly in prosecutorial reform tasks is the will of the people and my fateful duty," and "I will definitely complete prosecutorial reform." This can be interpreted as her determination to overcome various allegations raised against herself and her family for the sake of prosecutorial reform.

The continued efforts to check the prosecution amid ongoing controversies are consistent with this approach. On the 10th, she appointed Lim Eun-jung, chief prosecutor of the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office's Important Economic Crime Investigation Division, who has been a self-proclaimed internal critic of the prosecution, to oversee the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's inspection duties. This unusual one-point personnel appointment drew criticism within the prosecution regarding the form of the personnel move.

The next day, she sent an email to all prosecutors and investigators urging them to prepare for prosecutorial reform. Through this, Minister Choo stated, "The people's demand is to properly complete prosecutorial reform, which is being carried out for the first time since liberation," and "Looking back on the discussion process, although there were many difficulties, after strenuous efforts, we introduced an institutional foundation to allow judicial control over non-prosecution cases, and by unifying the jurisdiction of laws under the Ministry of Justice, the prosecution can properly fulfill its role as a guardian protecting human rights and justice, which gives me great satisfaction."

Moreover, on the 11th, the Blue House issued a detailed rebuttal to the public petition for her dismissal, gaining justification for a frontal breakthrough. The Blue House responded that all allegations included in the dismissal recommendation, such as retaliatory personnel moves and improper exercise of investigative authority, were "normal performance of duties."

Following the Blue House's response, distrust toward Minister Choo within the ruling party has somewhat eased. Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Jong-min, Seol Hoon, and Hwang Hee have begun to speed up their defense of Minister Choo, and it is expected that they will emphasize the prosecutorial reform framework together with her during this government inspection session.

However, since today's scheduled government inspection session is in the 'political sector,' it is highly likely that various issues will be raised, including not only the special military leave allegations but also requests, external pressure allegations, and prosecutorial personnel matters. A National Assembly official stated, "Since the statements exchanged during this government inspection session will ultimately affect prosecutorial investigations, intense confrontations between both sides are expected."

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