Current Chief Prosecutor Directly Criticizes Minister Choo Mi-ae... "Like Gungye's Mind-Reading Law, Politicians Should Never Become Ministers"

Jeong Hee-do Chief Prosecutor: "The 'Overall Manager of Prosecutorial Affairs' is the Prosecutor General"
"Please Respect Prosecutor General Yoon's Term" Request

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae (left) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] A current chief prosecutor recently delivered a direct blow to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, who limited Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's investigative authority through the exercise of investigative command rights.

The chief prosecutor likened Minister Choo's investigative ability, who issued a statement after only three days of inspection accusing Prosecutor General Yoon of "covering up the case," to the "Gungye’s mind-reading technique," and said, "I have come to hope that an active politician should never be appointed as Minister of Justice."

Jung Hee-do, former head of the Inspection Division 2 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and chief prosecutor of Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, revealed this on the afternoon of the 21st through a post titled "Supporting the Prosecutor General" on the prosecution's internal network 'Epros.'

Chief Prosecutor Jung recalled the time when Prosecutor General Yoon was the head of the investigation team for the 2013 "National Intelligence Service (NIS) Comment Scandal," saying, "While working at a frontline office, I felt my heart warm as a prosecutor when I heard about the investigation news through the media."

He continued, "Although most prosecution members supported the Prosecutor General and Prosecutor Yoon at the time, the Prosecutor General soon resigned, and the team leader, the Prosecutor General, was transferred to various local offices for years."

Chief Prosecutor Jung stated, "In 2019, the Prosecutor General investigated former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, a key figure in the current administration, and since then, he has been continuously attacked by the ruling powers," adding, "Seeing the Prosecutor General like that reminded me once again of 2013."

He then candidly shared his thoughts on Minister Choo's recent exercise of investigative command rights.

He said, "On October 19, the current Minister of Justice once again exercised a second investigative command right that was difficult to accept, and the Prosecutor General accepted that command," adding, "After seeing the Ministry of Justice's announcement on the Lime case on the 18th, I anticipated that a second investigative command would soon be exercised."

He continued, "I was amazed at the remarkable 'Gungye’s mind-reading technique' level of investigative ability that confirmed the suspicion that the 'Prosecutor General covered up the case' in just three days, and even after the former head of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office clearly stated that such suspicion was not true, I was again surprised to see the second investigative command exercised," strongly criticizing Minister Choo.

Chief Prosecutor Jung said, "I do not know the Minister of Justice's intentions, but the exercise of such investigative command rights can be suspected as a political act intended to attack the Prosecutor General and cause him to resign again," adding, "For true prosecution reform, I personally hope that an active politician will never be appointed as Minister of Justice in the future."

Regarding Prosecutor General Yoon's acceptance of Minister Choo's investigative command, he said, "I understand it as a result of his deep consideration to maintain the position of Prosecutor General and at least preserve the prosecution's political neutrality."

Finally, Chief Prosecutor Jung emphasized, "The 'overall supervisor of prosecution affairs' defined by law is the Prosecutor General, and the majority of prosecution members also believe and follow the Prosecutor General as the 'overall supervisor of prosecution affairs,' not the Minister of Justice or influential executives," adding, "I will always support and strive so that the Prosecutor General can uphold the legally stipulated term and maintain the 'political neutrality of the prosecution' to the greatest extent possible."