Kim Tae-nyeon: "Concerned about Yoon's perception of the prosecution as sacrosanct"

Yoon Fails to Properly Understand Basic Principles of Democracy
Draws the Line by Saying "Not a Special Prosecutor Matter" Regarding People Power's Demand for Special Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attending the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, criticized Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol for his "deliberate remarks," saying, "It is concerning that he views the prosecution as a sacrosanct power institution."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 23rd, Floor Leader Kim said, "The prosecution is not a privileged group existing outside the constitutional order or a sanctified power institution beyond the control of the people."

Referring to Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks claiming that Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's exercise of investigative authority was illegal, he added, "It seems that Yoon does not properly understand the fundamental principle of democracy, which is democratic control over power institutions."

Floor Leader Kim stated, "According to the Government Organization Act, the Prosecutor's Office is an agency under the Ministry of Justice, and prosecutors are subject to the direction and supervision of the Minister of Justice," adding, "The Minister of Justice is the supreme supervisor of prosecution affairs and is responsible for democratic control to prevent abuse of prosecutorial power."

He continued, "Prosecution reform is about correcting the prosecution that abuses the authority granted by the people and claims omnipotent power," emphasizing, "The Democratic Party will continue to promote prosecution reform so that the prosecution operates under democratic checks and balances."

Regarding the People Power Party's demand to accept a special prosecutor for the Lime and Optimus cases, he firmly drew a line, saying, "This is not a special prosecutor matter." Floor Leader Kim criticized, "It is becoming clear that this is not a power-type gate as the opposition claims," and added, "While rejecting the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which can be considered a permanent special prosecutor system, it is contradictory to demand a massive special prosecutor larger than the CIO just to investigate a financial fraud case."

He said, "The opposition's continued insistence on a special prosecutor can only be seen as a political intention to inflate baseless suspicions rather than substantive truth and to turn even a fraud case into a political conflict," emphasizing, "What is important now is to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to reveal the substantive truth and to punish anyone involved in the crime, regardless of their position." He added, "I hope the opposition will cooperate in the investigation to uncover the substantive truth rather than pushing for a special prosecutor for political conflict."