[Comprehensive] Cho Kuk: "Ulsan Case Prosecution Investigation Is the Foundation for Presidential Impeachment" Jin Joong-kwon: "Completely Lost His Mind"

Cheong Wa Dae Main Building [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk claimed on the 9th that the prosecution's investigation into the 'Blue House ordered investigation and election interference' case was conducted with the impeachment of President Moon Jae-in in mind. Meanwhile, Hwang Un-ha, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, also stated, "I read former Minister Cho's Facebook post. It exactly matches my usual thoughts."

Earlier on the same day, former Minister Cho asserted, "It seems the prosecution leadership drafted the indictment for the so-called Ulsan case anticipating the ruling party's defeat in the April 15 general election," adding, "In other words, they laid the groundwork for the president's impeachment following the ruling party's defeat in the general election."

Rep. Hwang continued, "One question is, despite accurately recognizing the prosecution's problems, why was there no decisive action to abolish the prosecution's direct investigation, which is the root of all evil?" He pointed out, "Because a vague prosecution reform bill that effectively maintains the prosecution's direct investigation was prepared, the prosecution's unchecked power has hardly changed compared to before the reform."

He further criticized, "The Korean prosecution operates like a 'quasi-political party,' and the political neutrality of the Korean prosecution is a fiction," adding, "The Korean prosecution can become a 'ferocious dog' or a 'pet dog' depending on the organization's interests."

He added, "As in the Ulsan case, targeted investigations, excessive investigations, fabricated investigations, and forced investigations for wrongful prosecution can be repeated at any time," and stated, "There is no advanced country where the prosecution, as a prosecuting agency, clings solely to direct investigations."

Regarding prosecution reform, he lamented, "As long as there is a misguided illusion about the prosecution's direct investigation, prosecution reform will inevitably fail," and expressed regret, "Despite the painful failure experience during the participatory government era, it is deeply unfortunate that the same failure is being repeated."

Prosecutors [Photo by Yonhap News]

He continued, "The opposition parties and conservative media currently side with the prosecution, thinking it will attack the Blue House, but they will soon regret it," arguing, "Regardless of party or ideology, they will only become prey and playthings for the prosecution."

In response, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon called it an "absurd conspiracy theory." On the same day, he criticized on his Facebook post, "What nonsense is this? (Cho Kuk) has completely lost his mind."

He added, "Who impeaches through the prosecution? It is decided by the Constitutional Court with the agreement of two-thirds of the National Assembly members," and "The president cannot be prosecuted while in office. A case that cannot be prosecuted cannot be grounds for impeachment." He further said, "If you're going to spread conspiracy theories, at least make them somewhat plausible. Now it has completely sunk to the level of Kim Eo-jun."

Professor Jin said, "At the core of this collusion between media and prosecution incident lies the absurd conspiracy theory that 'Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon are trying to influence the general election by defaming Yoo Si-min,'" adding, "Even Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae believed that ridiculous story," and "The fact that the minister tacitly allowed the exercise of investigative authority means even the president believed it."

He criticized, "'It smells fishy.' A country of conspiracy theories, a country of Kim Eo-jun," and said, "The obsessive hatred toward the prosecution and the irrational attacks on the Prosecutor General ultimately aimed to block the investigation into the Ulsan mayoral election interference case."

He added, "It's suspicious to come out like that. Could it be that the president was really involved in that case?" and "It is strange that the suspect Hwang Un-ha was given a nomination."

Meanwhile, Rep. Hwang was indicted on charges of election interference in the Ulsan mayoral election and Blue House ordered investigation after being requested by Song Cheol-ho, Ulsan mayor in 2017, when Hwang was the chief of the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency, to investigate Kim Ki-hyun, then Ulsan mayor (currently a member of the United Future Party).