Choo Mi-ae to Yoon Seok-yeol: "There Should Not Be a Politician as Prosecutor General"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae criticized Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "Attacking the government or shaking the administration should not be glorified as investigating the living power."

Minister Choo made this remark on the 4th during a comprehensive policy inquiry at the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee in response to a question from Yang Ki-dae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who said, "A political prosecutor general undermines the political neutrality of the prosecution."

Minister Choo pointed out, "Investigating the living power means uncovering power-type corruption in its pure sense," adding, "However, there have recently been cases that are not interpreted as meaning pure power-type corruption, and there are concerns that (Prosecutor General Yoon) is abusing prosecutorial power with a specific political purpose."

She further criticized Yoon, saying, "As the head of a power institution where political neutrality is required, a political prosecutor general alone becomes someone whom more than half of the people cannot trust," and "Literally, there should be no political prosecutor general, nor should there ever be one."

Minister Choo brought up the four-character idiom 금시작비 (今是昨非), meaning "to realize yesterday's mistakes today," stating, "An attitude of realizing yesterday's mistakes only today is necessary." She recalled that Yoon was part of the prosecution team investigating former President Lee Myung-bak, saying, "The public is criticizing what the special prosecutor and prosecution did, and the prosecutor general cannot be uninvolved as a participant."

She said, "The prosecution, which was colluding with power, needs an attitude of realizing its mistakes," and added, "Deciding to engage in politics oneself and falling into the political swamp contradicts the attitude of 금시작비." She continued, "I will keep that in mind to provide appropriate guidance," and "I will guide the prosecution well on the path to restoring public trust in the future."

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