Yoo Sang-beom: "Choo's 'Prosecutor Alcohol Hospitality' Taken as Fact... Attempt to Reduce Yoon Seok-yeol's Influence"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae attending the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice and others at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Yoo Sang-beom, a member of the People Power Party and former chief prosecutor, criticized Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on the 27th for taking as a given the 'prosecutor room salon entertainment' exposed by Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility and a key figure in the Lime Asset Management scandal.

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the same day, Rep. Yoo said, "As far as I know, nothing concrete has yet emerged regarding the allegations of drinking entertainment," and criticized, "It seems that Minister Choo Mi-ae spoke too definitively to downplay the influence of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks."

Earlier, on the 16th, former chairman Kim claimed in his first statement, "In July last year, through lawyer A, a former prosecutor, I entertained three active prosecutors with drinking worth about 10 million won."

Regarding this, Minister Choo stated at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice on the 26th, "According to the testimony of Kim Bong-hyun (former chairman of Star Mobility), it was confirmed through the inspection results that a prosecutor who received expensive entertainment was assigned as the head of the investigation team for this case and was encountered in the hallway."

She added, "Since there is public suspicion that the investigation was conducted as a political witch hunt rather than focusing on the multi-victim damage to ordinary citizens, inspections and investigations will be conducted concurrently on this matter as well."

Regarding Minister Choo's remarks at the audit, Rep. Yoo said, "Minister Choo Mi-ae sometimes speaks excessively," emphasizing, "Depending on the case, even if the person concerned files a defamation lawsuit, it may be difficult to avoid responsibility."

He also said, "The prosecutor in question is saying, 'I have never joined such drinking gatherings.'"

On the conflict between Minister Choo and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol over the use of the term 'subordinate,' he explained, "Legally, the Minister of Justice is indeed the chief person responsible for the prosecution and holds overall command authority," but added, "The hierarchical relationship we know between the Prosecutor General and chief prosecutors does not exist at all, and it should be seen as a legal grant of command and supervisory authority."

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