Kim Jin-ae: "Yoon Seok-yeol dragged Moon in to keep his position... Sly and cunning"

Kim Jin-ae, Member of the Open Democratic Party./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 26th, Kim Jin-ae, a member of the Open Democratic Party, fiercely criticized Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's national audit, saying he "used bizarre words that disturbed society."

During the questioning of Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae that day, Rep. Kim said, "Last Thursday, Prosecutor General Yoon used the bizarre word 'buha' (subordinate), which is inappropriate to use in a national audit, wasting the audit time unnecessarily." Earlier, Prosecutor General Yoon sparked controversy by saying, "Legally, the Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister."

Rep. Kim then asked, "Minister Chu wrote on Facebook that 'the Prosecutor General is a public official who is under the command and supervision of the Minister of Justice by law.' What does that mean?" Minister Chu replied, "According to the Government Organization Act and the Prosecutors' Office Act, the Prosecutor General belongs to the Ministry of Justice. I also find the word 'subordinate' unfamiliar."

Minister Chu further emphasized, "Prosecutors oversee prosecutorial affairs through the Prosecutors' Office, but the Minister of Justice is a government official who commands and supervises overall prosecutorial affairs as well as various immigration matters."

Rep. Kim also criticized Prosecutor General Yoon's statement on the 22nd national audit that he "received a message from President Moon Jae-in via messenger to complete his term," calling it "sly and cunning to involve the president for self-preservation."

Regarding this, Minister Chu stated at the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice at the National Assembly Judiciary Committee on the 26th, "As a party leader, I had many opportunities to meet President Moon before, so I am relatively familiar with his character. He would never bypass the formal reporting line to deliver messages through unofficial channels."

When Rep. Kim asked, "Prosecutor General Yoon says 'a political Minister of Justice is problematic,' but looking at what he is doing now, he seems like a 'political Prosecutor General.' What do you think?" Minister Chu responded, "There have been remarks that crossed the line for a Prosecutor General who must maintain political neutrality. I feel sorry and embarrassed as the person with command and supervision authority," reiterating that the Minister of Justice is the superior of the Prosecutor General.