Jeong Cheong-rae Draws the Line on 'Choo Mi-ae Resignation Theory': "Don't Be Fooled by the Media"

"Those Shaking Minister Chu Are the Hidden Culprits Opposing Prosecution Reform," a Sharp Rebuke

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, dismissed on the 3rd the notion of Choo Mi-ae's honorary resignation or joint resignation within the party.

In a post on his Facebook that day, Jeong said, "To get straight to the point, do not be deceived by the illusions of the media," adding, "There may be cases where one is unintentionally caught by the media's baiting, but this is not true," and "There can be no thoughts other than prosecutorial reform, amendment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) law, and early containment of Yoon Seok-yeol."

He continued, "Now is the time to form a scrum and cross the river of prosecutorial reform through fierce resistance," emphasizing, "Those who make mistakes or fall behind will meet a miserable end due to the joint attack of the prosecution party and the media party."

Earlier, voices suggesting the possibility of the joint or sequential resignation of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol had emerged within the ruling party.

Hong Young-pyo, a key pro-Moon Jae-in (친문, pro-Moon Jae-in) Democratic Party lawmaker, said in an interview with 'Hankook Ilbo' on the 1st, "Once the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) is launched and the prosecution situation calms down, I believe (Minister Choo) has completed all prosecutorial reforms as the Minister of Justice," adding, "The next stage of reform could be carried out by someone else." This was interpreted as suggesting the possibility that Minister Choo might resign once the CIO is launched and the situation settles.

On the 2nd, Kim Doo-kwan, a member of the same party, said in an interview on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "If Minister Choo, for example, successfully completes the first stage of prosecutorial reform, then after the launch of the CIO, the second stage could be led by a new person as head of the Ministry of Justice," expressing a similar view.

However, he added, "I find it difficult to agree with the idea of joint resignation of Prosecutor General Yoon and Minister Choo," and "The President will not actually do that," drawing a line on the possibility of joint resignation.

Regarding this, Jeong said, "There is no way back now, nor can we stray to the side," and "It was because of Choo Mi-ae that we have come this far."

He added, "We have come this far soaked in the blood shed by former Minister Cho Kuk," pointing out, "Those who shake Choo Mi-ae are the hidden culprits opposing prosecutorial reform."

He concluded, "Now is the time to support Minister Choo Mi-ae with one voice," emphasizing, "Do not be caught by the media's baiting and steadily walk the path."

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