[Summary] "It's time to step down" Ruling party repeatedly attacks Yoon Seok-yeol with 'dictatorship' remarks

"Dictatorship is a term often used by the United Future Party"
Even ruling party leaders demand Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation
Kim Du-kwan: "Ruling party should submit a motion to dismiss Yoon Seok-yeol"

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is speaking at the new prosecutor registration ceremony held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 3rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks rejecting 'dictatorship' at the new prosecutors' oath-taking ceremony have sparked continuous criticism from the ruling party. Following calls for his public resignation, proposals for submitting a dismissal motion at the party level have been made, further spreading the so-called 'Prosecutor General Yoon dictatorship' controversy.

On the 5th, Park Beom-gye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on his Twitter that the term "dictatorship" used by Prosecutor General Yoon "is a phrase frequently used by the United Future Party," and said, "The politicization of the prosecution is serious."

He added, "Even during the past Yushin dictatorship and military dictatorship eras, it was difficult to mention the term dictatorship. I cannot understand why the Prosecutor General used the term (dictatorship) to new prosecutors in this situation," and "Words reveal a person's character, interests, and human relationships."

Seol Hoon, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, also criticized Prosecutor General Yoon on the same day and demanded his public resignation. At the Supreme Council meeting held that day, Seol raised his voice, saying, "Does Prosecutor General Yoon have the qualification to mention dictatorship and totalitarianism?" and "He should step down now."

Referring to Yoon's remarks, he said, "It can be interpreted as an accusation that the Moon Jae-in administration is dictatorship and totalitarianism, but it is a cunning claim that only omits the subject 'Moon Jae-in administration.'"

He continued, "Prosecutor General Yoon clashed with Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, his superior, while trying to protect his close aide Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon," and urged resignation, saying, "If he maintains his position, how is that different from joining the ranks of dictatorship and totalitarianism? It would be wiser to step down and enter the path of full-fledged politics."

A proposal for submitting a dismissal motion at the party level was also made. On the same day, Kim Doo-kwan posted on his Facebook, "There is no need to hesitate any longer. The concern that it would be like nurturing a presidential candidate is just a luxury," and argued, "The Democratic Party should submit a dismissal motion against Prosecutor General Yoon."

Kim said, "In our constitutional system, the only target that can be criticized as dictatorship or totalitarianism is the president," and "The Prosecutor General criticizing the head of state, the president, as dictatorship and totalitarianism is an intolerable violation of the constitutional order and a challenge to the sovereign people, so dismissal is appropriate."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is speaking at the new prosecutors' registration ceremony held at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 3rd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Candidates running for the party leadership election also took issue with Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks. Lee Nak-yeon, a candidate for party leader, responded to reporters' questions about Yoon's remarks after the National Assembly plenary session on the 4th, saying, "I do not want to argue about specific remarks," but added, "I hope that neither the Prosecutor General nor the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection neglect their duties."

Park Joo-min also posted on Facebook that day, saying, "The Prosecutor General's remarks on 'democracy' at yesterday's new prosecutors' oath-taking ceremony are like turning a deaf ear to the voices of the people demanding prosecution reform," and pointed out, "In a democratic country, all public authority must be subject to democratic control, and the prosecution is no exception."

Park criticized, "If the head of the prosecution tries to disparage prosecution reform, which is the people's demand, as dictatorship and totalitarianism, it cannot escape criticism as protecting vested interests," and "It will rather become an obstacle to the majority of hardworking prosecutors regaining the people's trust."

Earlier, on the 3rd, Prosecutor General Yoon said at the new prosecutors' commissioning ceremony, "The core value of our constitution, liberal democracy, does not ignore equality and only emphasize freedom. It refers to true democracy that rejects dictatorship and totalitarianism disguised as democracy," and "Liberal democracy is realized through the rule of law."

He continued, "Especially, keeping in mind that all citizens are potential stakeholders and victims of corruption and power-related crimes, we must never turn a blind eye and must firmly confront them, exercising the law enforcement authority entrusted by the people strictly." This message came about a month after Minister Choo exercised her investigative directive, excluding Prosecutor General Yoon from the investigation into the 'prosecution-media collusion' allegations.