[Summary] "Crossed the line," "Should step down immediately" Conflict and political strife between Chu and Yoon continue on the last day of the National Assembly audit

Political Audit Ends on Last Day
Moon: "Audit Still a Political Offensive... Very Regrettable"
Opposition: "President Watches Chu-Yoon Conflict Like a Bystander..."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions at the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Board of Audit and Inspection, Constitutional Court, and Ministry of Government Legislation held on the 26th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kang Joo-hee] As the first state audit of the 21st National Assembly concluded on the 26th, political clashes related to Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol continued during the comprehensive audit held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the same day.

Minister Chu launched a fierce counterattack, refuting point by point Prosecutor General Yoon’s pointed remarks made at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office audit on the 22nd, where he said, "The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice," and "The exercise of investigative command authority is unjust." Among ruling party figures, remarks emerged to check or criticize Yoon’s potential entry into politics. Critics argue that the audit ended up as a 'political battle audit' that only fueled the conflict between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon, rather than focusing on policy discussions related to state affairs.

On the 26th, Minister Chu attended the comprehensive audit of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly and continued her strong criticism of Prosecutor General Yoon. Referring to Yoon’s statement that "the exercise of investigative command authority is illegal," she said, "It is highly contradictory and delusional for the head of the prosecution to say such things while holding that position. If he wants to say such things, it would be appropriate to resign first."

Minister Chu also criticized Yoon’s hint at a possible political career after retirement, saying, "As the Prosecutor General who must maintain political neutrality, that statement crossed the line," and added, "Even if he plans to enter politics tomorrow, at least here he should have said, 'I have no intention of engaging in politics at all.'" She further dismissed Yoon’s use of the term "subordinate" as "an unfamiliar word," emphasizing, "The Minister is the superior of the Prosecutor General."

Among ruling party members, remarks continued to challenge Yoon’s statements and check his potential political ambitions.

Kim Jong-min, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized, "(Prosecutor General Yoon) has led the prosecution into politics," adding, "He has effectively disobeyed the command authority of the President and the Minister. This is unacceptable for a public official responsible for their duties."

Kim further argued, "If no measures are taken to prevent high-ranking judicial enforcement officials such as the Prosecutor General, Chief Prosecutors, and Supreme Court Justices from running for elected office within a few years, the confrontation between ruling and opposition camps over the judiciary will continue to escalate," calling for legislation to block elected positions for judicial officials.

Lawmaker So Byung-chul from the same party also lashed out at Yoon, calling him "the Prosecutor General shaking up the presidential election," and said, "Although he rose as a presidential candidate supported by a specific faction, the trust in the prosecution has plummeted to the bottom." Kim Jin-ae of the Open Democratic Party criticized, "Yoon wasted audit time and disrupted the session by using the bizarre word 'subordinate'?a term inappropriate for the audit."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is responding during the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit held by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd. Photo by Yonhap News

However, some argue that this 'political offensive during the audit' highlighted only the confrontation and conflict between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon, with policy discussions largely absent.

President Moon Jae-in evaluated at the senior secretaries and aides meeting held at the Blue House Yeomin-gwan on the same day, "It is very regrettable that the audit still remains a stage for political offensives."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, also expressed skepticism at the emergency committee meeting, saying, "Watching ruling party lawmakers question the Prosecutor General during the audit made me seriously doubt whether such scenes are normal in a country with parliamentary democracy. Is Korea’s parliamentary democracy developing normally?"

Criticism is also mounting toward President Moon, who has only observed the conflict between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon. As the conflict between the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General deepens, there are calls for the President, who appointed them, to make a decisive decision.

Seong Il-jong, Emergency Committee member of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook on the same day, "Government and ruling party figures are launching a full-scale offensive against Prosecutor General Yoon," and demanded, "If he is such a problematic Prosecutor General, the President should immediately formally propose his dismissal."

Seong continued, "Are you afraid that if Prosecutor General Yoon is dismissed, the mask of fairness and justice he wore will be removed and public resistance will intensify? If not, President Moon Jae-in should immediately dismiss Yoon Seok-yeol. Why keep such a problematic Prosecutor General?"

Park Soo-young, a People Power Party lawmaker, appeared on YTN Radio’s "Hwang Bo-seon’s Start Morning" on the 27th and pointed out, "Whether to dismiss both or conduct a proper investigation and dismiss one is the President’s responsibility and the authority of the appointing power," adding, "Doing nothing and watching from afar is not acceptable."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, also wrote on Facebook, "Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon have crossed the line where reconciliation is possible," and criticized, "President Moon’s attitude of merely watching their conflict and confrontation is extremely wrong." Ahn further urged, "Putting Jang Hui-bin and Queen Inhyeon under the same roof is hypocrisy. Right now, you must choose between Chu Mi-ae and Yoon Seok-yeol."

Meanwhile, the audit schedule for the 14 standing committees of the 21st National Assembly, which began on the 7th, was completed on the 26th. From today (the 27th) until the 4th of next month, audits of concurrent standing committees such as the Operations, Intelligence, and Gender and Family Committees will commence.