Geum Tae-seop "Chu Mi-ae is appalling... How is it different from MB's time?"

"Many Disciplinary Reasons Occurred Before Chief Prosecutor Yoon's Appointment"
"How Can Neutrality of Future Public Officials Be Guaranteed This Way?"

Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a lecture at the 'Myeongbulheojeon' meeting of first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 18th. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who left the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae on the 24th for suspending Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol from duty and filing disciplinary charges, calling it "truly shocking."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, former lawmaker Geum said, "I couldn't believe it, but the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office indicted Prosecutor General Yoon's mother-in-law, and in line with that, Minister Chu filed disciplinary charges and ordered suspension from duty."

He added, "(Minister Chu) cited various reasons, but anyone with common sense can understand the real reason for the disciplinary charges," pointing out, "It is because he acted contrary to the government's wishes in major case investigations."

He continued, "I couldn't help but laugh at the phrase about damaging the dignity and trust of the Prosecutor General," and criticized, "If this is the case, how is it different from the Lee Myung-bak administration forcing Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook to resign by citing irrelevant reasons just because they didn't like the comment investigation?"

Former lawmaker Geum pointed out, "Many of the disciplinary reasons claimed by the ruling party, including the mother-in-law issue, occurred before the Prosecutor General's appointment," adding, "At that time, Prosecutor Yoon received high praise from the Blue House and the Democratic Party. The senior secretary responsible for verification was Cho Kuk, and Choi Kang-wook, the leader of the Open Democratic Party who now criticizes Prosecutor General Yoon at every opportunity, was the Public Official Secretary at the Senior Secretary's Office."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is explaining the reasons for the disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol regarding the inspection results at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News

He went on to ask, "If they discipline the Prosecutor General whom they themselves verified and appointed in this way, how can the neutrality and appropriateness of candidates for the head of the Corruption Investigation Office be guaranteed and secured when the office is established in the future?"

He also questioned, "Prosecutorial reform is not about a specific individual," and asked, "How will the Ministry of Justice prevent the Minister from intervening in prosecutorial affairs in this way and causing political controversy in the future?"

Meanwhile, Minister Chu announced on the same day that she had filed disciplinary charges and ordered the suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon. At a briefing in the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room, Minister Chu explained, "The Ministry of Justice conducted a direct inspection into multiple allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General and confirmed numerous serious and grave allegations."

The allegations of corruption against Prosecutor General Yoon mentioned by Minister Chu include ▲ inappropriate contact with media company owners ▲ illegal surveillance of trial panels in major cases such as the former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's case ▲ violation of cooperation obligations and obstruction of inspection during the face-to-face investigation of the Prosecutor General ▲ and serious damage to the dignity and trust as Prosecutor General regarding political neutrality.

However, as Prosecutor General Yoon hinted at legal action in response to Minister Chu's measures, the conflict is expected to reach its peak. In a statement distributed to the media on the same day, Yoon emphasized, "I will legally respond to the illegal and unfair measures to the end," and stressed, "I have fulfilled my duties as Prosecutor General without any shame to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution."