Criticizing the Investigation Process of Former Chairman Kim Bong-hyun, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Deceives the Public"
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 21st, Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae directly attacked Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol through her Facebook post, criticizing the prosecution investigation process regarding Kim Bong-hyun, the former chairman of Star Mobility (46, detained and indicted), who recently exposed allegations of ‘prosecutor lobbying.’
In a post made a day before the National Assembly’s inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Minister Chu used blunt expressions such as “the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office deceived the public” and “the Prosecutor General should have reflected and apologized before getting angry,” targeting Prosecutor General Yoon.
In the post uploaded around 8:10 a.m. that day, Minister Chu opened by saying, “I hoped that there was even a single moment of sincerity in ‘prosecutorial reform,’ but such expectations and trust have been shattered, and I am truly disappointed.”
She mentioned that “the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office admitted and reflected on the unfair investigative practice of calling prisoners to the prosecutor’s office, creating separate investigations through persuasion and pressure, and leaking investigation details to the media to publicize accusations before trial, effectively presuming guilt,” referring to the fact that in June, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Ministry of Justice jointly formed the ‘Human Rights-Centered Investigation Task Force’ and launched the ‘Human Rights Investigation System Improvement Task Force.’
Minister Chu added, “On September 21, they even announced restrictions on repeatedly summoning inmates for separate investigations and a principle to prohibit summoning for the purpose of collecting crime information. However, regarding Kim Bong-hyun, who was detained on April 23, they reportedly summoned him as many as 66 times over three months to repeatedly interrogate and persuade him about ruling party politicians.”
She continued, “Information about accusations against ruling party politicians was leaked recklessly through the media. Meanwhile, there were testimonies about providing entertainment to opposition politicians and prosecutors, but it was limited to a face-to-face report to the district prosecutor, and no one else was informed,” pointing out that “there was not even a report to the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Anti-Corruption Investigation Department.”
Minister Chu emphasized, “In the end, even at the moment when they vowed to eradicate unfair investigative practices, they were actively collecting crime information using inmates. Now, even if you say you are making meju with soybeans, there is no public willing to believe it.”
She apologized, saying, “As the supervising minister, I sincerely apologize to the public for the current situation.”
Minister Chu openly expressed dissatisfaction with the opposition party, the media, and Prosecutor General Yoon.
She wrote, “Before the opposition party and media blindly criticize that ‘the minister exercised command authority over the Prosecutor General based on a single letter from a conman,’ they should first target the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office that deceived the public,” and concluded her post by saying, “The Prosecutor General should have reflected and apologized as a commander, whether he knew or not, before getting angry and calling it ‘slander.’ It is regrettable.”
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