Kim Geun-sik "Janggunmeonggun exchanged, but Chu Mi-ae is overshadowed by Yoon Seok-yeol"

Geun-sik Kim, Chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong Party Committee of the People Power Party./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Kim Geunsik, the head of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district in Seoul, evaluated the conflict between Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol over the "political neutrality of the prosecution," saying, "They exchanged blows like generals, but Minister Choo is losing ground."

On the 4th, Kim wrote on his Facebook, "Minister Choo, who tries to tame the prosecution by attacking Prosecutor General Yoon over the political neutrality of the prosecution, is being contradictory. In contrast, Prosecutor General Yoon's lecture that investigating the living power according to the spirit of the republic is the essence of prosecutorial power entrusted by the people resonates deeply," he said.

He emphasized, "If investigating corruption in the living power is the prosecution's duty, then the prosecution must be neutral, that is, independent from power," adding, "When the living power is at fault, the prosecution must be able to investigate strictly and decisively without fearing the power."

He continued, "Since Prosecutor General Yoon conducted investigations targeting power, including the investigation of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, the Ulsan mayoral election interference case, and the cover-up of Yoon Jae-soo's inspection, the Moon Jae-in administration and the ruling party pressured the prosecution under the banner of prosecutorial reform, and Prosecutor General Yoon was stigmatized as the head of the vested-interest prosecution," he pointed out.

He added, "Since then, Minister Choo has been busy cutting off and purging Prosecutor General Yoon's hands and feet by unprecedentedly abusing investigative command authority, personnel authority, and inspection authority," criticizing, "She is trying to turn the prosecution into a servant of power by threatening retaliatory attacks even on ordinary prosecutors."

Kim concluded, "Who is really damaging the prosecution's neutrality? Who is truly shouting for the prosecution's neutrality? The distinction is clear," adding, "They exchanged blows like generals, but public sentiment is clear and the outcome is decided. Minister Choo is now caught in a 'checkmate'."

On the afternoon of the 22nd of last month, Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice (left), is leaving the Ministry of Justice building within the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi Province to go out. Yoon Seok-yeol, Prosecutor General, is attending the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit on the same day, responding to lawmakers' questions.
/Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 3rd, Minister Choo issued a statement saying, "The political neutrality of the prosecution is demanded more strictly than any other institution. Especially, the words and actions of the Prosecutor General at the top are, rather, damaging the political neutrality of the prosecution and causing a collapse of public trust, which I consider a very serious issue."

She added, "The prosecution is not an investigative agency focused on direct investigations but must be reborn as a true human rights advocacy institution. I will communicate with prosecutors to complete prosecutorial reform so that all prosecutors can work with pride as legal professionals for the people."

On the other hand, Prosecutor General Yoon emphasized at the new chief prosecutor leadership training held at the Legal Research and Training Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk, in the afternoon, "Prosecutorial reform is creating a prosecution that can strictly investigate corruption of the 'living power' without hesitation."

He continued, "Since the prosecution was born from the spirit of the republic where the people are the owners of the country, it must become the people's prosecution," adding, "The prosecution must move toward fair and equal law enforcement. The people's prosecution must strictly enforce the law against corruption of power entrusted by the people and protect the weak citizens through that."

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