"‘Trying to Shake the Government’ vs ‘Will Hold Choo Accountable’: Ruling and Opposition Clash Over Dongbu Detention Center Cluster Infection"

On the afternoon of the 6th, an inmate at Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, showed a paper with the words "Please save me" written on it to reporters outside the window. / Photo by Yonhap News

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The ruling People Power Party (PPP) filed a complaint with the prosecution holding Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae responsible for the COVID-19 cluster infection at Seoul Eastern Detention Center, prompting voices of opposition from the ruling party, which said it was "an attempt to shake quarantine policies and tarnish President Moon Jae-in."

Heo Young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a briefing on the 6th, "Members of the People Power Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee have filed a complaint with the prosecution against Minister Choo on charges of professional negligence and gross negligence resulting in death or injury," adding, "It only appears to be an attempt to shake the government's quarantine policies and tarnish President Moon."

He urged, "We hope they immediately stop this narrow-minded behavior aimed solely at gaining political advantage through conflict."

Woo Sang-ho, a member of the same party who declared his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election in April, also targeted the opposition party in a post on his Facebook on the same day, saying, "They have relapsed into the habit of filing complaints with the prosecution whenever something happens," and added, "It is pitiful that they are ultimately trying to solve it by borrowing the power of Prosecutor General Yoon."

He continued, "The complaint against Minister Choo under the pretext of the Eastern Detention Center incident is interpreted as an attempt to shake K-quarantine and tarnish President Moon," and criticized, "It is a blatant display that the main opposition party does not care about the lives and safety of its own people."

He added, "Seeing that they want to delegate political acts to the judiciary to pursue partisan interests, it seems they lack awareness as a legitimate political party," and emphasized, "As the main opposition party, I recommend standing on your own with political power rather than relying on the power of complaints."

Woo Sang-ho, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

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Meanwhile, on the same day, the People Power Party strongly criticized with the intention of "holding Minister Choo accountable for the Eastern Detention Center cluster infection incident."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a press conference after visiting the Eastern Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, "I waited because I was worried that visiting the detention center might interfere with resolving the cluster infection incident, but many citizens demanded that the truth be revealed, so I visited," adding, "I found out that the response of responsible people at the Ministry of Justice, including Minister Choo, was very inadequate, and that was the cause of the mass infection."

He emphasized, "We will definitely hold Minister Choo and others responsible for the cluster infection incident."

In fact, on the same day, members of the People Power Party belonging to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee submitted a complaint to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, alleging that Minister Choo and Ministry of Justice officials were guilty of professional negligence, gross negligence resulting in death or injury, and dereliction of duty.

At a National Assembly press conference that day, these lawmakers stated, "Due to Minister Choo's negligence, numerous infections and deaths occurred," and "They only visited the Eastern Detention Center after 32 days had passed since the first confirmed case and after the number of confirmed cases exceeded 700."

People Power Party Floor Leader Joo Ho-young is speaking before a briefing on the morning of the 6th during his visit to the Seoul Eastern Detention Center, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred. / Photo by Yonhap News

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They added, "Minister Choo, who criticized the prosecution for being late in conducting a search and seizure after confirmed cases appeared at the Shincheonji Church in Daegu, what role was she playing and where was she?" and accused, "She was preoccupied with trying to oust Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl."

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Justice, the 6th full inspection of the Eastern Detention Center conducted that day confirmed that 66 additional inmates tested positive.

The first confirmed case at the detention center was identified on November 27 of last year. Since then, correctional authorities conducted the first full inspection on the 18th of last month, and a total of 1,118 people have been confirmed positive through six rounds of full inspections to date.

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