[Comprehensive] "Prosecutors 'Coming Out Too?' Trend?" Kang Ki-jung Mocks Prosecutors' Backlash

Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung is responding to reporters' questions on the morning of the 19th at the Southern District Prosecutors' Office in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, before filing a complaint against an unidentified prosecutor and lawyer mentioned in the statement of Kim Bong-hyun, former chairman of Star Mobility and a key figure in the Lime Asset Management case, for abuse of authority and violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Kang Ki-jung sarcastically remarked on frontline prosecutors' backlash against Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, saying, "Is the prosecutors' 'Me Too Coming Out' becoming a trend?"

Earlier, on the 28th, Prosecutor Lee Hwan-woo of the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 1 criticized the prosecution reform promoted by Minister Chu on the prosecution's internal network 'Epross'. Prosecutor Lee pointed out, "It has failed from the very foundation," and added, "I feel that personnel authority, command authority, and inspectors are being overused without hiding their purpose and intentions."

He continued, "I sense a will to power that, if pleased, endlessly praises, and if displeased, suppresses by any means."

In response, former Senior Secretary Kang wrote on his Facebook on the 30th, mentioning "Prosecutor Lee! Prosecutor Choi!" and said, "While fiercely resisting even small moves toward prosecution reform, what on earth did they think after watching the trial of Kim Hak-ui (former Deputy Minister of Justice) yesterday?"

The day before (the 29th), Minister Chu and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk publicly criticized Prosecutor Lee. Minister Chu attached an article related to Prosecutor Lee on her Facebook that day and emphasized, "Good. If you come out like this, reform is the only answer."

Former Minister Cho also shared someone else's post on his Facebook on the 29th titled, "Who is Prosecutor Lee Hwan-woo of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office who publicly criticized Minister Chu Mi-ae (Ministry of Justice)?"

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Choi Jae-man of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office, known as the son-in-law of former Minister of Justice Cheon Jeong-bae, also criticized Minister Chu, who publicly criticized Prosecutor Lee for stating "prosecution reform has failed," saying, "I will also come out," and criticized Minister Chu.

Prosecutor Choi posted a piece titled "Regarding the Minister's SNS Post" on the prosecution's internal network Epross that day, saying, "The Minister saw Prosecutor Lee's post and said, 'If you come out like this, reform is the only answer,'" and questioned, "What does Prosecutor Lee's expression of concern that 'the most essential philosophy and tone of prosecution reform?securing political neutrality of the prosecution and preventing abuse of prosecutorial power?has been greatly damaged recently' have to do with reform?"

He added, "I cannot help but boldly ask whether the Minister thinks that demoting prosecutors who do not comply with the government's and Ministry of Justice's policies or who do not handle cases in the desired way through personnel measures or pressuring them to resign under various pretexts such as inspections is prosecution reform."