Ahn Cheol-soo: "Choo Mi-ae's Investigation of Yoon Seok-yeol's Special Activity Funds Is Clear Political Retaliation"

“Early Stage of Dictatorship and Resemblance to Pseudo-Dictatorship”
“Biden's Victory Likely Embarrassed Moon Administration”
“Opposition Needs Reform Coalition, Not Anti-Moon Alliance”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, criticized Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s directive on the 9th for the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Inspection Department to investigate the payment and allocation details of special activity funds at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and various prosecution offices, calling it “a clear political retaliation against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and a pretext for targeting him,” and “an abuse of power and privatization of authority.”

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Ahn said, “If the head of the Ministry of Justice’s pure intention is to correct budget usage without supporting documents, shouldn’t the minister’s own special activity funds be openly disclosed first?” He added, “Who would sympathize when one cannot see the beam in one’s own eye but only looks for specks in others’ eyes?”

Ahn stated, “The problem is not only with the minister who is a politician. The destruction of evidence related to nuclear phase-out by 444 officials of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as revealed by the Board of Audit and Inspection, goes beyond the destruction of public service discipline and amounts to state affairs manipulation.” He emphasized, “The prosecution must thoroughly investigate, find the higher-ups, bring them to justice, and punish them severely.”

Ahn questioned, “Is the ruling party leader who criticizes the prosecution’s investigation into such crimes a supporter of corruption? Those who were outraged that the unqualified Choi Soon-sil interfered in state affairs, why do they defend these crimes by officials and their superiors?” He pointed out, “The ruling party’s excessive hypocrisy and double standards have reached their peak, now even reaching the level of self-denial.”

Ahn criticized, “Is the controversy over the preliminary research costs for the Gadeokdo New Airport saying that law and procedure are unnecessary? Since things don’t go their way, are they cursing public officials and trying to intimidate them by calling them in? Is the Moon Jae-in administration’s way of governing to destroy principles and procedures by force, and if that doesn’t work, to curse and intimidate?”

Ahn said, “The Moon Jae-in administration is turning investigative agencies into private armies, neutralizing the Board of Audit and Inspection, and turning the legislature into a rubber stamp.” He added, “It is trying to destroy the checks and balances fundamental to democracy. In short, it is the early stage of a dictatorship and resembles a quasi-dictatorial regime.”

Regarding the U.S. presidential election, Ahn said, “I congratulate candidate Biden on his victory and hope that the pressing issues between Korea and the U.S., including defense cost-sharing negotiations, will be resolved quickly, and that the shaken and weakened Korea-U.S. alliance will be firmly restored.” He noted, “Biden’s comeback victory must have caused considerable embarrassment to the Moon Jae-in government.”

Ahn added, “As the president-elect, Biden, having served as vice president and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is likely to have considerable knowledge about the Korean Peninsula issue. However, his perception of North Korea’s nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula as president may differ.” He urged, “President Moon and the diplomatic authorities must not provide distorted information to the president-elect for the regime’s benefit. As a party to the North Korean nuclear issue, please convey the thoughts of the Korean people based on a sober understanding of reality and universal values and judgments of the international community.”

Regarding the opposition realignment theory, Ahn said, “Last week’s proposal for an innovation platform for the entire opposition was a conclusion reached after deep reflection that neither the future of the opposition nor that of Korea can continue as is.” He emphasized, “What is needed is not simply an anti-Moon coalition or an anti-Democratic Party coalition, but a reform coalition, a future coalition, and a people’s coalition that can produce and implement a vision for change and innovation in Korea.”

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