[Summary] Blue House: "Choo's Investigation Command Authority Unavoidable" vs Opposition: "Dismiss Immediately"

Blue House: "Ministry of Justice Investigation Directive Inevitable... Investigation Without Sacred Areas"
"Blue House Did Not Give Instructions to Minister or Receive Reports on Actions"
Ruling Party: "People Power Party Should Stop Meaningless 'Political Special Prosecutor' Demands"
Opposition: "Do Not Neglect Minister Jang, President Moon Jae-in Should Immediately Dismiss Him"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is answering questions at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice held on the 12th in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The Blue House has expressed the view that the exercise of investigative authority by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae in the case related to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is inevitable. The ruling and opposition parties are showing sharp differences in opinion, with the ruling party calling for a "special prosecutor for political strife" and the opposition demanding the "immediate dismissal of Minister Choo."

Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated at a briefing at the Press Center on the 20th, "Regarding the investigative authority of the Minister of Justice, the Blue House neither instructed the Minister of Justice nor was informed about whether it would be exercised," adding, "We see the exercise of investigative authority as inevitable."

Earlier, on the 19th, Minister Choo announced that she would exercise investigative authority to guarantee an independent investigation into the family and surrounding cases of Prosecutor General Yoon. The investigative team was instructed to conduct investigations independently without supervision or direction from higher institutions such as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and to report only the results to the Prosecutor General.

In response, the ruling party expressed that the move was justified, noting that Prosecutor General Yoon also accepted Minister Choo's exercise of authority, and criticized the opposition for opposing it as engaging in political strife.

Shin Young-dae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said on the same day, "Even though the Prosecutor General immediately accepted the investigative authority, the People Power Party is making noise. They seem desperate to create political strife."

Park Sung-joon, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a briefing, "The Minister of Justice excluded the Prosecutor General's command in this case and ordered independent and thorough investigations by each investigative team, and Prosecutor General Yoon also expressed acceptance," adding, "We urge the People Power Party to stop meaningless demands for a 'special prosecutor for political strife' and focus on the remaining National Assembly audit schedule."

Kim Young-jin, chief floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party, emphasized, "We hope the prosecution will conduct a thorough investigation so that there will never again be talk of targeted or fabricated investigations," and "We also ask the opposition to refrain from indiscriminate allegations and political offensives, observe the prosecution's investigation, and focus on the people's livelihood."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor leaders' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, the opposition criticized Minister Choo's exercise of investigative authority as irrational behavior and a measure to prevent the exposure of a power-related corruption gate.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's strategy meeting that day, "Minister Choo's knife dance is becoming more extreme day by day," and questioned, "Which citizen would believe an investigation led by pro-Choo Mi-ae and pro-government chief prosecutors?" He then urged, "President Moon Jae-in should no longer tolerate Minister Choo and immediately dismiss her."

Earlier on the 19th, the political circles showed sharp differences in opinion even on the day Minister Choo exercised her investigative authority. Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in an oral comment that afternoon, "The exercise of investigative authority by Minister Choo Mi-ae is a legitimate legal exercise of the Minister of Justice for a fair and thorough investigation."

On the other hand, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized, "The Minister's investigative authority, the last bastion to reveal the truth, is being abused to cover up the truth," adding, "Today's behavior, which privatizes even power to bring down Prosecutor General Yoon, will remain an indelible stain in the history of the rule of law in the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, Minister Choo said in a post on her Facebook on the 20th, "It is a natural and fortunate measure that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol changed his stance and complied with the Minister of Justice's command."

She continued, "Now, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office should expand and reorganize the related investigative teams," and added, "The investigative teams should be independent from higher institutions such as the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and, with an attitude equivalent to that of a special prosecutor, conduct swift and thorough investigations solely based on law, conscience, and principles to meet the public's expectations."