[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Hee-eun Park] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk indirectly criticized on his Facebook on the 5th, stating, "2013 National Intelligence Service public opinion manipulation case special investigation team leader Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol ≒ 2020 Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team trying to investigate Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's closest aides."
Former Minister Cho continued, "In 2013, Minister of Justice Hwang Kyo-ahn unofficially gave improper investigation orders to block the investigation into the National Intelligence Service public opinion manipulation case, and Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol exposed this at the time." He added, "In 2020, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae publicly issued instructions to the Prosecutor General according to the law to guarantee the independence of the investigation team investigating the Prosecutor General's close aides."
This is interpreted as a claim that during the 2013 comment manipulation case, then Minister of Justice Hwang Kyo-ahn obstructed the prosecution investigation through illegal means, whereas Minister Choo Mi-ae, in contrast, exercised her investigative authority according to the law to protect the independence of the investigation team.
Additionally, former Minister Cho emphasized the legitimacy of the minister's investigative authority over the Prosecutor General by referring to parts of the book "Thinking about the Prosecution" by President Moon Jae-in and Professor Kim In-hoe of Inha University School of Law in another post on the same day.
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