[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the 26th, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon evaluated the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice and others, saying, "It seems the audit has become a place for backbiting the Prosecutor General."
On the same day, former professor Jin wrote on his Facebook, "It seems the audit has become a place to badmouth the Prosecutor General. They made such a fuss over a few words after holding back for so long..." and sarcastically added, "They must be very frustrated. Morons... This is why Gag Concert got canceled."
He also shared an article containing Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's statement that "the exercise of investigative command authority was lawful, necessary, and urgent," and commented, "It may have been necessary and urgent, but don't insist it was lawful," adding, "The investigative command authority has become as common as dog poop."
Meanwhile, during the audit, Minister Choo responded to a question from Park Joo-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding suspicions about the 2018 Optimus case investigation by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office ending with no charges. She said, "It is a customary practice to report investigations of major politicians through the Anti-Corruption Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and it is natural to report both before and after requesting warrants on accounts, but the problem was that there was neither prior nor subsequent reporting."
She continued, "On the other hand, reports were made through the Anti-Corruption Department regarding ruling party figures as well," and claimed, "There were many suspicious points about that, so as the minister, I exercised the investigative command authority according to the law. It was lawful, necessary, and urgent."
Additionally, in response to a question from Kim Jin-ae of the Open Democratic Party, who asked, "Prosecutor General Yoon used the bizarre word 'subordinate,' causing social unrest. Aren't you the superior of the Prosecutor General as the minister?" Minister Choo replied, "The court belongs to an independent judiciary," and explained, "The prosecution is managed by the Prosecutors' Office, and the Minister of Justice is a government official who supervises not only that but also overall prosecution affairs, immigration, and corrections."
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