Yoon Seok-yeol "Campaigning Like a Tour" vs Opposition "Chu Mi-ae, Madman Strategy" Political Clash Over 'Prosecutors' Special Activity Funds'

Kim Tae-nyeon "Yoon promotes political messages like a nationwide campaign... causing public inconvenience"
Joo Ho-young "Choo's madman strategy... means doing whatever he wants"

On the morning of the 9th, Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice (left), is arriving at the Government Complex Gwacheon. Yoon Seok-youl, Prosecutor General (right), is also arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul that morning.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid ongoing political disputes over the prosecution's special activity funds (special activity expenses), on the 10th, the ruling party claimed that the prosecution is abusing its authority by investigating government policies, while the opposition party raised critical voices toward Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, questioning whether she is employing a "madman strategy."

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out at the party's morning floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, "If the prosecution wants to talk about being the people's prosecution, it must first undergo a thorough self-reflection and self-reform regarding abuse of power," adding, "Our people feel uncomfortable with the recent behavior of the Prosecutor General touring the country like a campaign, promoting political messages."

He continued, "The people are demanding fundamental prosecution reform. However, the prosecution is resisting the government's policy decisions through investigations against the people's reform demands," and criticized, "The prosecution is an institution under the Ministry of Justice, which is part of the executive branch, and has no authority to evaluate government policies or national administration."

He emphasized, "Investigating government policies is a clear abuse of prosecutorial power that crosses the constitutional separation of powers and even exercises legislative authority," and stated, "A fair people's prosecution is one that leads self-reform to protect the people's human rights. The Democratic Party and the government will complete prosecution reform, the greatest reform task of this era, regardless of any resistance."

Member of the same party, Kang Byung-won, also pointed out that it is "time for Prosecutor General Yoon to decide his own resignation."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, he said, "The Ministry of Justice's order to audit special activity funds is a process to increase transparency by verifying whether precious tax money is being used appropriately," and added, "Prosecutor General Yoon's third place in presidential candidate support? It's because he forgets his duty of political neutrality and continuously makes biased remarks and actions."

Kang described Prosecutor General Yoon as being at the level of "'Power of the Prosecution' party leader," criticizing, "Now he even tries to interfere with the policies of the government elected by the people."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 10th, listening to Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's remarks.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the opposition party argued that a state audit or special committee should be established to inspect the government's special activity funds. This appears to be a backlash against the Ministry of Justice's audit of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's special activity fund expenditures.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, "The Minister of Justice made claims about special activity funds but did not properly submit materials during the verification at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, effectively obstructing the verification," and questioned, "Is Minister Choo employing a madman strategy?"

He added, "It's a madman strategy to say, 'I'll do whatever I want, so let's fight.' Such a strategy is inappropriate for the Minister of Justice, who is related to the dignity of the country," criticizing further.

He also claimed regarding the 'special activity funds' controversy raised by Minister Choo, "Minister Choo says that during her term, the Ministry of Justice did not use (prosecution's special activity funds), so then it should be revealed whether there was illegal use during the terms of former Ministers Cho Kuk and Park Sang-ki."

He emphasized, "There is a need to re-examine the entire government's special activity funds by creating a state audit or special committee."

People Power Party lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye also appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the same day, pointing out that ruling party lawmakers were passive during the Ministry of Justice's verification.

He said, "Minister Choo raised two suspicions: 'Prosecutor General Yoon is not providing special activity funds to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, causing difficulties for the investigation team,' and 'Prosecutor General Yoon is using special activity funds like petty cash,' but these are groundless."

Additionally, Jeon said, "In the Ministry of Justice's case, ruling party lawmakers did not ask questions yesterday, and mainly opposition lawmakers asked many questions about the Ministry of Justice's materials and special activity fund expenditures," and questioned, "Special activity funds are expenses for information and case investigations requiring confidentiality, so what kind of 'confidential information or case investigation' is the Ministry of Justice doing if it is not conducting investigations?"

Earlier, on the 5th, Minister Choo raised suspicions targeting Prosecutor General Yoon at the National Assembly Judiciary Committee's plenary session, saying, "He has been using special activity funds like petty cash," and added, "The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has not been allocated special activity funds, causing difficulties for the investigation team," sparking the 'special activity funds controversy.' The next day, on the 6th, she ordered the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department to investigate Prosecutor General Yoon's allocation and expenditure of special activity funds.

The day before, members of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee visited the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, and conducted document verification on the Ministry of Justice and prosecution's special activity funds for about three hours.

However, the ruling and opposition parties fiercely clashed, accusing the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice of not sufficiently submitting special activity fund expenditure details and payment resolutions. Ultimately, both parties agreed to discuss requesting additional materials after reviewing the insufficient data disclosed by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

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