Lee Su-jeong "In Autumn, Criminals Lie Whenever They Speak... Why Don't They Realize It?" Pro-Ruling Party Faces Collective Criticism

"Criminal Sitting in Detention Center Being Lectured by Prosecutors Is Truly Ridiculous"
"Ministry of Justice and Prosecutors, How Fun It Must Be to Stir Up Fights Between Ruling and Opposition Parties"

Professor Lee Su-jeong, Department of Criminal Psychology, Kyonggi University [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University is expected to cause a stir by saying to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, "I don't think criminals realize how good they are at lying whenever they open their mouths."

Minister Choo is currently receiving support from Democratic Party supporters amid conflicts with some prosecutors over prosecutorial reform. A junior prosecutor posted a critical message about Minister Choo in an internal prosecutors' chat room, and Minister Choo posted a message on her Facebook criticizing that prosecutor, escalating the conflict between the minister and the junior prosecutor.

In this conflict situation, Professor Lee, who joined the People Power Party's by-election primary preparation committee, has many chances to trigger collective criticism among the 'pro-Moon' and 'Moonbba' factions. Previously, the 'pro-Moon' factions had collectively criticized Professor Lee simply because she was active in the opposition party.

According to an interview in the November issue of Shindonga, when asked, "A criminal (former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun) has shaken the legal system with a prison letter. What do you think?" Professor Lee said, "Isn't it really ridiculous that a criminal sitting in a detention center is lecturing the prosecution?"

This is interpreted as criticism of the Minister of Justice of a country activating the prosecution chief's investigative authority based on the claims of convicted fraudsters.

Professor Lee explained, "If you visit a prison, there are really many people whose everything except breathing is a lie," adding, "They lie first and foremost. If they tell 100 lies and even one or two work, they benefit." She continued, "From former Chairman Kim's perspective, how fun must it be to pit the Ministry of Justice, the prosecution, and the ruling and opposition parties against each other."

Professor Lee further explained, "Before we interview a criminal, we almost memorize their records," adding, "If you face a criminal's lies without such preparation, you get confused about what the truth is."

She emphasized, "But these criminals are being made into whistleblowers who enforce justice," adding, "For whom? When value systems are shaken and right and wrong become ambiguous, the group that benefits the most is criminals."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Board of Audit and Inspection, Constitutional Court, and Legislation Office held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim, the key figure in the 'Lime Asset Management' scandal, released a prison letter on the 16th of last month claiming, "I entertained a current prosecutor with alcohol" and "The prosecution covered up the investigation into lobbying by opposition politicians." Three days later, Minister Choo activated the investigative authority to prevent Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from being involved in the case.

Following Minister Choo's activation of investigative authority, former Seoul Southern District Prosecutor Park Soon-chul, who was investigating the Lime case, resigned, saying, "Politics has covered up the prosecution."

This is not the first time Minister Choo has exercised investigative authority. Before Kim's prison letter, in July, she also activated investigative authority to strip Prosecutor General Yoon of his command over the Channel A case, which was reported to MBC by Ji, a five-time convicted fraudster, alleging collusion between the prosecution and the media.

Meanwhile, collective criticism of Professor Lee by some pro-government factions is expected. This is because Professor Lee, who is not affiliated with the Democratic Party but participates in the People Power Party's Special Committee on Sexual Violence Countermeasures and the by-election primary preparation committee, is effectively active in the opposition party while expressing critical views on Minister Choo's activation of investigative authority.

Professor Lee has already been collectively criticized by pro-government factions simply for being active as a member of the People Power Party. She revealed her feelings about malicious comments (malicious posts) in a radio interview.

On the 16th of last month, appearing on CBS Radio's Kim Hyun-jung's News Show, when the host asked, "Since entering politics, you have suffered from malicious comments and emotional distress," Professor Lee said, "I have never received as many malicious comments as I did in 2020 in my life."

She explained, "If the comments were reasonable, I would deeply reflect and try to change something, but they started from personal matters and wildly spread false information... (there were many malicious comments)."

She added, "Since the malicious comments are false, I can't go to the media to say 'that's not true,' nor do I have a chance to explain," adding, "So I just think, 'Let's ignore it. I'm not running for an elected position anyway, and if they get tired of insulting me, they'll stop.'" She also said, "I have no intention of suing for defamation. I just leave it alone," and repeated, "A pot can't keep boiling forever. When the water runs out, the pot burns and it's over."

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