Hong Jun-pyo: "Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon's Push and Pull Escalates... They Should Stop"

Independent lawmaker Hong Jun-pyo is delivering a congratulatory speech at the special lecture commemorating the opening of the 21st National Assembly, held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 9th of last month during the 'Korea Future Innovation Forum.' Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] Amid the conflict between Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over the exercise of investigative command regarding the alleged collusion between prosecutors and the media, independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo criticized, saying, "The only ones getting annoyed are the watching public, so stop it."

On the 8th, Hong posted on his Facebook, "The push and pull between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon is becoming increasingly absurd."

He said, "One rose to the position of party leader and justice minister as the greatest contributor to the Moon administration's rise in politics, while the other, as the head of the Park Young-soo special prosecutor's investigation team, led the impeachment election and was the greatest judicial contributor to the Moon administration's birth, which led to his unprecedented promotions culminating in becoming the Prosecutor General. The current push and pull between these two under the Moon administration is truly a spectacle," he pointed out.

He continued, "Like the Seven-Step Poem (Chilbo-si) by Cao Zhi in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, how can they come from the same pod and engage in a power struggle over investigations protecting their close aides, which have nothing to do with the people's livelihood?" he criticized.

He added, "The essence is merely a territorial dispute, yet they both claim justice and fairness. The public is not that ignorant," he added.

Earlier, Prosecutor General Yoon proposed to Minister Chu that an independent investigation headquarters be formed, including the investigation team, with the head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in charge of the investigation headquarters, and that he would only receive the results.

However, Minister Chu rejected the proposal 1 hour and 40 minutes after the news of Yoon's proposal became known, stating, "The Prosecutor General's proposal effectively includes the replacement and change of the investigation team, so it cannot be seen as carrying out the minister's instructions as written."