Sang-ki Park: "Requesting leniency for former Minister Cho Kuk is not reasonable"... Refuting Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks

Former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Former Minister of Justice Park Sang-ki appeared on a radio program on the 26th and denied that he requested Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol to show leniency toward former Minister Cho Kuk during the investigation.

In a phone interview with TBS Radio’s ‘Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory’ on the morning of the same day, Minister Park directly refuted Prosecutor General Yoon’s statement at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office hearing on the 23rd, which implied that Park had requested leniency regarding then-candidate Cho Kuk.

Minister Park acknowledged that on August 27, when the first search and seizure of former Minister Cho took place, he was informed of the search while on his way to the regular Cabinet meeting and subsequently requested to meet Prosecutor General Yoon.

However, regarding Yoon’s statement that he had requested leniency, he argued, “There is no reason for the Minister of Justice to ask the Prosecutor General for leniency. It is not reasonable in common sense.”

Former Minister Park added, “As you know, the Minister of Justice is the highest supervisor of prosecutorial affairs, isn’t that how it is stated? I find it quite absurd that the term ‘leniency’ was used here...”

Regarding the background of requesting the meeting with Prosecutor General Yoon, he recalled, “In a situation ahead of the confirmation hearing, a sudden forced investigation was launched against the ministerial candidate, which was absolutely unacceptable. So, I asked to meet in the afternoon to find out what was going on, and we met.”

Targeting Prosecutor General Yoon, Park said, “Usually, the phrase ‘Il-in-ji-ha-man-in-ji-sang’ (one person under heaven) is used to describe the old Yeonguijeong (Prime Minister), but (Yoon) is ‘Mu-in-ji-ha-man-in-ji-sang’ (no one under heaven). Doesn’t he think he is in a position to control everyone without being controlled by anyone?”

When asked by the host whether Yoon had said something to the effect of, “If you just resign, things will quiet down and we will have discretion and room to handle the work,” Park replied, “Yes. That statement can only be interpreted as aiming for (then-candidate Cho Kuk’s) resignation.”

Meanwhile, regarding the recent controversy over the minister’s investigative command, former Minister Park said, “The media says, ‘This is the third time in history that the command and supervision rights have been exercised,’ but such incidents occurred when there was a non-prosecutorial minister.” He argued, “If the minister is from the prosecution, matters within the organization formed by senior and junior prosecutors would likely be resolved smoothly, but when a non-prosecutorial person becomes minister and the command is not accepted, there is no choice but to officially exercise the command and supervision rights.”