[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, announced that he will file charges against those responsible for the early shutdown decision of Wolseong Unit 1 for abuse of authority, breach of duty, and damage to public property. While acknowledging the efforts of Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung regarding the recent audit results, he also criticized the failure to prosecute the responsible parties as an "unfinished audit."
On the 21st, Joo appeared on KBS Radio's "Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs" and stated, "We will hold legally and historically accountable the lines involved in the improper early shutdown decision made without proper procedures, from officials at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy up to the core of the Blue House."
He explained, "The audit committee members who compromised their integrity to reach a wrong conclusion or those who persistently obstructed the audit conclusion are all recorded in the audit report," adding, "We will file charges against the responsible individuals for abuse of authority, breach of duty, and damage to public property."
Regarding the ruling party's criticism that "the standard for evaluating economic feasibility should not be broadly interpreted as a policy issue," he said, "To judge the right or wrong of the early shutdown, we need to consider economic feasibility, safety, and the acceptance of local residents, among which economic feasibility is the most important factor. If the economic feasibility evaluation was wrong, then the early shutdown was obviously wrong, and that conclusion must be drawn."
On the audit report's failure to provide an answer on the validity of the early shutdown, Joo emphasized, "It is an incomplete audit that failed to respond to the National Assembly's audit request. Three of the six audit committee members are closely related to the administration, so structurally they could not provide an answer. However, the judgment that the economic feasibility evaluation was low implies that the early shutdown decision was wrong."
When the host suggested that safety should be judged more importantly, Joo responded, "If safety is more important than economics, then all nuclear power plants should be shut down. Are some nuclear plants safe while others are not? Then why did former President Roh Moo-hyun say it was the safest nuclear power plant in the world, and why did President Moon Jae-in promote overseas nuclear power plant sales?"
He also reiterated the call for a special prosecutor regarding the Lime and Optimus scandals. Joo said, "Claiming that some documents submitted by former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun are fake and others are absolutely true, and treating them as gospel, is an attempt to form an investigative team with prosecutors who align with their intentions. Therefore, we urge an immediate special prosecutor investigation."
Regarding the Democratic Party's intention to pass the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HOCI) bill even by changing the law, he said, "Saying they will change the law means they are undermining their own claim that the HOCI is a neutral institution and not a tool of power. We are considering whether it is appropriate to make recommendations." He also mentioned, "If we think there is no other way, we will find a way to stop it even if it requires sacrifice," hinting at the possibility of protests outside the parliament.
On the possibility of recruiting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi, and former Deputy Prime Minister Kim Dong-yeon, he responded, "Such ideas themselves belittle their proper job performance. Discussing whether to recruit those currently in office distorts their intentions."
Regarding the possibility of an alliance with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, he said, "We share the will to oppose and stop the tyranny and wrongdoings of the Moon Jae-in and Democratic Party administrations, so there is no reason not to cooperate. While there is debate over the form and timing of joining forces, there is hardly any opinion that outright rejects cooperation."
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