Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is responding during the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the morning of the 22nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] "The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice."
"The majority of prosecutors and legal professionals believe that Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's investigative directives are illegal and unjust."
At the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held on the morning of the 22nd, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol delivered candid remarks based on his usual convictions, prompting a flood of supportive comments from prosecutors who witnessed the scene.
Following the 'media collusion' case and recently witnessing Minister Choo Mi-ae stripping Prosecutor General Yoon of his investigative authority through her directives, many prosecutors who had no opportunity to express their true feelings are now sending messages of support to Prosecutor General Yoon by commenting on a critical post against Minister Choo written by Chief Prosecutor Jeong Hee-do on the internal electronic network, e-Pros.
Chief Prosecutor Jeong's public criticism of Minister Choo's investigative ability?comparing it to the 'Gungye's mind-reading technique'?and his post titled "We Support the Prosecutor General" received over 100 comments by the afternoon of the same day.
Especially after the National Assembly Broadcasting and others live-streamed the inspection, supportive comments for Prosecutor General Yoon have poured in.
Supportive and Encouraging Comments for Prosecutor General Yoon Continue
First, many prosecutors expressed gratitude, saying they gained strength from Prosecutor General Yoon's candid remarks that day.
"Prosecutor General, thank you sincerely for protecting the convictions of prosecutors. Please stay strong!"
"You have made our ailing hearts beat again, Prosecutor General. I sincerely support you."
"I support the Prosecutor General's conviction to uphold the political neutrality of the prosecution. Please stay strong!"
"Even if you are struck with an axe or targeted by snipers, please fulfill your duty as a strong pillar that blocks external winds. After all, a pillar is originally a plant."
"No matter what difficulties arise, I believe you will fulfill your duty as Prosecutor General to uphold the political neutrality of the prosecution. Prosecutor General, I support you. Please stay strong!"
"Prosecutor General! I have no doubt that you will never waver in the face of any external pressure or threats. What truly tires and weakens your lonely and difficult fight is perhaps my own weakness, which had been shrinking away from the fierce political power, losing determination and dignity. Chief Prosecutor Jeong Hee-do, thank you for your kind words. Prosecutor General! Please stay strong."
Many comments also showed that several prosecutors are supporting and backing Prosecutor General Yoon from behind the scenes.
"Prosecutor General, how exhausting it must be. Yet, thank you for standing tall and moving forward step by step. As a citizen before being a prosecutor, I am grateful. Please stay strong!! Many prosecutors, including myself, will accompany and support you."
"Prosecutor General... I support you. Please stay strong. Prosecutors nationwide are supporting you with the same heart."
"The true measure of a person's capacity is not in shining moments but in moments of pain and persecution. Prosecutor General, you are never alone. As always, prosecutors nationwide who respect and support you are here. Let's all stay strong."
References to Prosecutor Ha Do-ya from the Drama Daemul and Mr. Keating from the Movie Dead Poets Society
Comments comparing Prosecutor General Yoon to characters from dramas or the protagonist in the movie Dead Poets Society also stood out.
"Righteous... Prosecutor Ha Do-ya from a past drama!! The person introduced as 'the real Prosecutor Ha Do-ya' was former Chief Prosecutor Nam Ki-chun. But there is another person exactly like him, and I understand that person is our Prosecutor General. Thank you sincerely for fighting to the end against the evil forces of this world. Thank you!!"
"Thanks to the chief's supportive post, our juniors are also gaining strength. Reading the comments reminds me of the last scene in the movie Dead Poets Society, where Mr. Keating enters the classroom and shy students one by one stand on their desks shouting 'Captain, my Captain!' Prosecutor General, I believe you will overcome this crisis with us. Please stay strong!!"
Critical Comments on Minister Choo and Prosecutors in the 'Choo Mi-ae Line'
Meanwhile, there were also comments expressing dissatisfaction with Minister Choo's actions and critical views of some prosecutors who advance their careers by conducting investigations that suit the current government's preferences.
"Even if there is a text report, it is irrelevant to her. The Prosecutor General is excluded based on mere hearsay. Many prosecutors share anger and pain over this absurdity. Prosecutor General, please stay strong!"
"People only see what they want to see, but politicians seem to view everything as 'political.' No matter what they say, I believe you will be a strong pillar so that the prosecution can fulfill its original role as a legal professional and head of the prosecution. Prosecutor General, I support you. Please stay strong~!!"
"Rather than a dog wagging its tail and flattering its master, a scarecrow quietly standing alone in a golden field is cooler. I will also lend my strength, though it is small."
"While some prosecutors risk their positions for politics, there are also prosecutors who risk their positions to uphold law and honor. I support you, Prosecutor General."
The internal electronic network e-Pros requires current prosecutors to post under their real names. Therefore, even if they have something to say, posting complaints about the minister requires a readiness to be 'targeted,' which is a fact.
One prosecutor, seemingly aware of this, wrote, "I believe the time when courage is needed to express one's opinion will soon pass. I sincerely hope that posting comments itself will not become another form of 'division.'"
Comments Urging Seoul Southern District Prosecutor Park Soon-chul Not to Resign Amid His Resignation Post
Meanwhile, Park Soon-chul, head of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office overseeing the Lime case investigation, posted a resignation letter stating, "Politics has covered up the prosecution," and that "the main allegations excluding the Prosecutor General's investigative authority are far from the truth," which received nearly 100 comments.
Many comments expressed sympathy for Park's difficult situation and urged him not to resign.
"Chief Prosecutor, you must have been very exhausted by unreasonable demands beyond personal tolerance and the limits of being a prosecutor. Please reconsider your intention to resign."
"I recall the words of my chief when I was a rookie: 'Though a sword may break when bent, it should never be a hook that is bent but intact'... I pray you will be a strong shield for the investigation team prosecutors."
"Since you are the one doing the work and have spoken clearly and responsibly about it, I hope the forced fabricated sophistry and baseless speculation by those who do not know will disappear."
Earlier, Minister Choo Mi-ae, through investigative directives, stripped Prosecutor General Yoon of his investigative authority in the Lime lobbying suspicion case being investigated by the Southern District Prosecutors' Office, ordering the investigation to be conducted under the responsibility of the head of the Southern District Prosecutors' Office and that only the investigation results be reported to the Prosecutor General. However, Park Soon-chul expressed his intention to resign in his post titled "Politics Has Covered Up the Prosecution" on the same day.
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