Lee Nak-yeon Declares "Will Not Stand By During Search and Seizure of Wolsong Unit 1" as a Declaration of War

"No Request for Investigation but Massive Response: Political Investigation and Prosecutorial Abuse"
Following Chu Mi-ae, Direct Hit at Yoon... Kim Tae-nyeon "Very Regrettable, Most Polite Expression"
Choi Jae-hyung's 'Nonsense Statement Rebuttal' Fallout... Opposition "Blatant Intent to Obstruct Investigation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Amid a large-scale search and seizure operation by the prosecution regarding allegations of manipulation in the evaluation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 pointed out by the Board of Audit and Inspection, the ruling party has effectively declared a war of words against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, stating that they "will not stand idly by." On the 5th, when Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae opened fire by targeting Prosecutor General Yoon, calling it an "attack on the government," the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea launched a massive offensive.

On the morning of the 6th, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon raised his voice, saying, "The Board of Audit and Inspection did not even request an investigation, yet the prosecution has responded massively to a politically charged case filed by the opposition party," calling it a "political investigation and abuse of prosecutorial power." He added, "I do not want to believe that the People Power Party and some political prosecutors are colluding to attack the government," paradoxically launching an offensive.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Leader Lee pointed out, "Energy transition is a key policy promoted by President Moon Jae-in's election pledge and the Moon administration. Judicial investigations into this can only be interpreted as the prosecution attempting to influence government policy areas." He continued, "The Democratic Party will not tolerate the behavior of some political prosecutors. We hope the prosecution immediately stops this dangerous and reckless rampage," emphasizing his stance.

Kim Tae-nyeon, the Democratic Party floor leader, also targeted Prosecutor General Yoon at the meeting, saying, "I express deep regret over the prosecution's behavior of intervening in state affairs. This is the most polite expression I can use." Kim criticized, "The closure of Wolseong Unit 1 was a policy decision made after comprehensively considering safety, economic feasibility, and local acceptance. There are many suspicious circumstances beyond a simple investigation in this search and seizure by the prosecution." He added, "This investigation began just two weeks after the People Power Party submitted the complaint and one week after Prosecutor General Yoon visited the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office." He warned clearly, "If the prosecution conducts investigations with political motives, the Democratic Party will not overlook it." Kim emphasized the phrase "abuse of prosecutorial power" twice to highlight it.

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lawmakers within the party also raised their voices. On the same day, lawmaker Ko Min-jung wrote on Facebook, "I am afraid their blades might reach me as well," adding, "They are so coordinated as if preparing for a search and seizure. It looks like a military operation." In response, former Dongyang University professor Jin Jung-kwon criticized, "What on earth did you do to be worried about the prosecution's blade?"

The Democratic Party's backlash aligns with Minister Choo's remarks the previous day. At the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Minister Choo pointed to Prosecutor General Yoon as the mastermind behind this investigation. She criticized, "In my view, this is not a power-type corruption case but an issue in the government's policy decision process," adding, "A political prosecutor general attacking and shaking the government through biased and excessive investigations, or conducting dozens of search and seizures at the Blue House, is equivalent to attacking and collapsing the democratic system."

Furthermore, the controversy is expected to spread as Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung rebutted Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min's "nonsense" remark. Chairman Choi responded to Noh Young-min's comment on the 4th that the audit results of Wolseong Unit 1 were "unprecedented nonsense," saying, "It is difficult to understand. I regret that if we had communicated more deeply, such remarks could have been avoided."

The opposition party also stood firm. On the same day, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the "Discussion on the Illegality of the Anti-Nuclear Power Policy Revealed by the Wolseong Unit 1 Audit," "The investigation has started, and some search and seizures occurred yesterday, but Minister Choo is already openly showing intentions to obstruct the investigation." He sharpened his words, saying, "They call it a 'political investigation,' but all the cases Minister Choo is trying to obstruct are those that will hold tremendous responsibility once the truth is revealed."

Kim Ye-ryeong, spokesperson for the People Power Party, also released a statement that day, saying, "It is 'nonsense' that a nuclear power plant, which was repaired with 700 billion won to meet the president's pledge, now needs to be dismantled at a cost of 750 billion won, and that the Blue House and government ministries together distorted and manipulated state affairs." She emphasized, "We hope the prosecution will unwaveringly and clearly reveal the whole story of the anti-nuclear power fiasco."

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