Joo Ho-young "Corruption Investigation Office, a Garbage Dump of Power Corruption" vs Ruling Party "Joo Ho-young Spews Language of a Corruption Suspect"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering opening remarks.
Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, referred to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gong-su-cheo) as a "garbage dump and final disposal site for power-type corruption," prompting the Democratic Party to criticize him, saying he is "uttering cursed language like a corruption suspect."

Shin Young-dae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a written briefing on the afternoon of the 22nd, "If the People Power Party is not trying to defend power-type corruption, there is no reason to obstruct the launch of Gong-su-cheo."

Regarding Joo Ho-young’s remarks, Shin criticized, "He is provoking political strife with language that lacks dignity."

Shin also pointed out, "Gong-su-cheo is a minimum check-and-balance device against the prosecution, which has lost its ability to self-purify, aimed at eradicating job-related corruption among high-ranking officials," and added, "The People Power Party has not expressed any remorse regarding court rulings related to former President Lee Myung-bak’s BBK case and former President Park Geun-hye’s state affairs manipulation."

He continued, "Furthermore, they have not apologized to the public for appointing Representative Park Deok-heum as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s secretary, while turning a blind eye to allegations of bid-rigging involving his family’s construction company."

He expressed deep regret, saying, "Instead of voicing self-reflection through a public apology, the People Power Party has issued a stance akin to the curses of suspects involved in power-type corruption toward Gong-su-cheo," and added, "The Democratic Party will do its utmost to launch Gong-su-cheo despite any obstruction from the People Power Party to eradicate recurring power-type corruption."

Earlier that day, Joo Ho-young posted on his Facebook, "The Moon Jae-in administration is threatening to launch a 'military operation' to amend the Gong-su-cheo Act," criticizing, "They are trying to amend the Gong-su-cheo Act, which was illegally and unlawfully created through the so-called fast-track process, without even implementing it."

Joo claimed, "Once the monstrous Gong-su-cheo is launched, any public official will participate without hesitation in criminal acts ordered by the president and those in power," and argued, "Those in power who illegally secure various interests while sitting in key positions in the Blue House and power circles will be fine as long as Gong-su-cheo takes over the cases when incidents arise."

He added, "President Moon and his apostles will become infallible incarnations beyond the reach of the rule of law. A being that does not admit errors is a god," and said, "Underneath them are followers who vow to realize justice by protecting their leader with their lives. Gong-su-cheo will degenerate into a tool to punish forces that do not recognize the divinity of the leader."

He continued, "As a legal professional myself, I am fearful of what this dreadful judicial body, where the president and the Gong-su-cheo chief freely appoint prosecutors and investigators, will do," and criticized the ruling party’s justification for Gong-su-cheo, saying, "Gong-su-cheo is a judicial body above the prosecution and police. It is obvious how a regime that persecutes the Prosecutor General, whose independence is guaranteed by the constitution and law, will operate Gong-su-cheo."

He asserted, "Gong-su-cheo will become a garbage dump and final disposal site for power-type corruption," and said, "It is obvious how a regime that persecutes the Prosecutor General, whose independence is guaranteed by the constitution and law, will operate Gong-su-cheo. It is certain that they will appoint a more reckless 'one of their own' than Chu Mi-ae as the Gong-su-cheo chief."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party previously announced that, as the Gong-su-cheo Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee, composed of legal experts and nominees from both ruling and opposition parties, faced difficulties selecting the final two candidates, they plan to hold a subcommittee meeting of the Judiciary Committee on the 25th to reduce the opposition’s veto power through amendments to the enabling law.

The law, which was fast-tracked in the 20th National Assembly and passed in December last year, serves as the enabling law for Gong-su-cheo and specifies the opposition’s veto power in the process of recommending candidates for the Gong-su-cheo chief.

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