Choo Mi-ae: "Yoon indirectly demanded 'Son Jun-sung's retention'... Strongly opposed saying 'Why cut off your own limbs?'"

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Former Minister of Justice and Democratic Party presidential candidate Chu Mi-ae hinted at external pressure regarding prosecution personnel appointments while serving as minister in August last year. She also claimed that Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential pre-candidate, indirectly requested the retention of Son Jun-sung, the former Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Investigation Information Policy Division, who is involved in the 'accusation manipulation suspicion.'

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 6th, former Minister Chu was asked whether Yoon requested that Prosecutor Son's rank be downgraded from Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Investigation Information Policy Division to Investigation Information Officer. Chu responded, "He did not directly request me," but added, "Of course, there was an opinion from (Yoon's side) to retain him. I did not retain him, so how it ended up as retention will be revealed when the time comes."

She continued, "When I said I would listen to opinions for the personnel appointments in the first half of the year, (Yoon) said, 'I will not give opinions until the entire personnel plan is shown.' So, for the second half of the year, the summer appointments, I asked for written personnel submissions, and (Yoon) himself submitted written opinions regarding personnel principles," adding, "He also gave opinions when asked for the second personnel appointments."

Then, former Minister Chu explained, "The spokesperson is the mouth, and the Investigation Information Policy Division is the eyes and ears. So (Yoon) strongly opposed, saying, 'Why are you cutting off all your own limbs?'" but added, "However, innovation in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was necessary."

When the host asked, "If (former Minister Chu) had no intention to retain but retention happened, it means Yoon requested retention through another route. Isn't the other route ultimately the Blue House?" Chu avoided the question, replying, "I cannot say at this moment. I will reveal it when the time comes."

Meanwhile, Yoon's camp strongly denied the accusation manipulation suspicion. Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for Yoon's campaign, said in an interview with TBS Traffic Broadcasting's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' that "There is no direct evidence for something that did not happen," adding, "If something was exchanged, there would be a giver and a receiver, so they should clarify the facts first."

Kim Kyung-jin, former lawmaker and external cooperation special advisor for the campaign, also appeared on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start New Morning' the same day, denouncing it as "a part of the lies and fabrications that flood every presidential election through political attacks and public opinion manipulation."

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