Kim Geun-sik "Lee Nak-yeon, shocked by opportunism... Trying to win favor with pro-Moon faction?"

Choo Mi-ae Requests Disciplinary Action and Job Suspension for Yoon Seok-yeol
Lee Nak-yeon "Shocked and Disappointed by Yoon Seok-yeol's Charges... Hope He Decides His Position Like a Public Official"

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the morning of the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, effectively urged Yoon Seok-yeol, Prosecutor General, to "decide on his position," practically calling for his resignation. In response, Kim Geun-sik, chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee and professor at Gyeongnam National University, criticized on the 25th, saying, "It is hard to suppress my shock and disappointment at Lee's swift opportunism."

Professor Kim wrote on his Facebook that day, "I still believed in Lee, who was from the non-Roh (非盧) faction and had a rational and dignified past career, but now he quickly supports Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's 'legal dictatorship,'" expressing his criticism.

He continued, "In the end, has he been captured by the 'Ddaekkaemun' (a derogatory term for those who blindly support President Moon Jae-in), or is he riding on the coattails of the Ddaekkaemun? Has he decided to win the favor of the pro-Moon (親文) faction to become a presidential candidate and president?" he questioned.

He also quoted the late former President Kim Dae-jung, warning, "'How you live is more important than what you become.' A day of regret before history will soon come," he cautioned.

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 24th, Minister Choo excluded Prosecutor General Yoon from his duties and filed disciplinary charges. This is the first time in constitutional history that a sitting Prosecutor General has been ordered to suspend duties.

At a briefing in the first-floor press room of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office that day, Minister Choo said, "We have confirmed multiple serious and grave allegations of misconduct by the Prosecutor General," adding, "As the Minister of Justice, the highest supervisor of prosecutorial affairs, I have judged that it is no longer acceptable for the Prosecutor General to perform his duties as Prosecutor General. Therefore, today, I have filed disciplinary charges against the Prosecutor General and ordered the suspension of his duties."

The main allegations Minister Choo cited against Prosecutor General Yoon include ▲inappropriate contact with media company owners ▲illegal surveillance of trial panels in major cases such as the former Minister Cho Kuk case ▲information trading related to inspections with the media ▲violation of cooperation obligations and obstruction of inspections during the face-to-face investigation of the Prosecutor General ▲damage to the dignity and trust of the Prosecutor General regarding political neutrality.

Regarding this, Lee Nak-yeon wrote on his Facebook, "It is hard to suppress my shock and disappointment at the allegations against Prosecutor General Yoon announced by the Ministry of Justice."

He added, "I hope the Ministry of Justice will strictly proceed with the subsequent procedures according to the law," emphasizing, "I recommend Prosecutor General Yoon decide on his position as a public official."

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