'Sosinp'a' Jo Eung-cheon Criticizes: "Will Justice Prevail if the Corruption Investigation Office Launches and Yoon Seok-yeol is Excluded?"

"Amid the nationwide struggle with COVID-19, the only focus day after day is on Yoon Seok-yeol and the Corruption Investigation Office"

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Jo Eung-cheon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea known as a 'principled faction,' criticized the disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae has crossed a bridge of no return," and questioned, "We cannot help but ask whether (the disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon) is beneficial to the nation and society."

On the morning of the 25th, Jo posted on his Facebook, "Regardless of agreement on the severity and appropriateness of the disciplinary reasons, I could not help but ask whether this unprecedented suspension and disciplinary request of a Prosecutor General in constitutional history is justified, whether now is the right time for this, and whether it benefits the nation and society."

He said, "Our party and the Blue House have continuously emphasized prosecutorial reform. I also fully agree that the entire criminal justice system needs reform," and asked, "Since the topic has come up, how is the direction of prosecutorial reform now?"

He also pointedly criticized recent developments such as the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gongu-cheo) and the adjustment of investigative authority.

Jo said, "First, under the pretext of adjusting investigative authority, an ambiguous investigative authority was left to the prosecution as a prosecuting agency, while creating many blind spots in supervision over the police as an investigative agency, and even granting them exclusive domestic intelligence collection functions."

He continued, "Also, the Gongu-cheo can take cases under investigation by the prosecution and police and exercise prosecutorial authority, which has raised various concerns," adding, "It was said that there is a veto right, so there is no need to worry excessively. But now, they are trying to amend the law to nullify that veto right," criticizing the move.

He further stated, "Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae exercised unprecedented investigative command, inspection, and personnel authority with harsh language immediately after Prosecutor General Yoon's inauguration. Then, she crossed the bridge of no return by suspending his duties and requesting disciplinary action," and questioned, "I want to ask, does all this align with prosecutorial reform? If the Gongu-cheo is launched and Yoon Seok-yeol is excluded, will criminal justice be properly established?"

Jo said, "The entire nation is struggling due to COVID-19 throughout the year. Citizens are eagerly awaiting news that COVID-19 cases are rapidly decreasing and the economy is improving rather than news starting with prosecutorial reform, Chu Mi-ae, or Yoon Seok-yeol," emphasizing, "So, the daily focus is on the Gongu-cheo and Yoon Seok-yeol. Didn't I say just before the last party convention, 'They say they care about people's livelihood, but their eyes are on the prosecution'?"

Finally, Jo said, "I hope the ruling power can make the people feel more comfortable," and added, "I will accept criticism of my claims graciously."

Meanwhile, Jo is considered a principled faction within the party. However, Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party and one of the 'Jo-Geum-Bak-Hae' (Jo Eung-cheon, Geum Tae-seop, Park Yong-jin, Kim Hae-young) principled faction members, was cautious, saying, "If what the Minister of Justice announced yesterday is true, this seems to be an unavoidable disciplinary matter."

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