Jeong Cheong-rae: "Even the Prosecutor General Cannot Escape Legal Sanctions... Because It Is a Rule of Law Country"

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea member./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] On the 25th, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, called the allegations of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol spying on judiciary judges an "enormous national disgrace incident," and asserted, "Even the Prosecutor General must undergo inspection if there is any illegal fact."

On the 25th, Jeong posted on his Facebook, saying, "Power without any surveillance and checks is only possible in a dictatorship," emphasizing this point.

Jeong stated, "All people are equal before the law. No one is an exception, and there should be no sanctuary," and pointed out, "In that regard, even the Prosecutor General should be subject to inspection and investigation if there is any illegal fact."

He added, "If, as announced by the Ministry of Justice, the incumbent Prosecutor General spied on judiciary judges, this is an enormous national disgrace incident," and said, "Such a serious issue warrants the National Assembly to step in and push for a parliamentary audit."

Jeong emphasized, "Prosecutors are public officials belonging to the executive branch. All public officials in the Republic of Korea are subject to surveillance and control through the National Assembly's audit, and prosecutors are no exception, including the Prosecutor General," and pointed out, "The prosecutorial investigation and prosecution rights are public goods. If these public goods were used illegally and privately beyond laws and systems, responsibility must be duly held."

He continued, "Two former presidents are currently imprisoned. This is proof that the law is alive," and stressed, "If there is any illegal fact, can the Prosecutor General avoid legal sanctions? Because the Republic of Korea is a country governed by law."

Meanwhile, on the previous day (24th), Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae issued a disciplinary request and a work suspension order against Prosecutor General Yoon.

The reasons Minister Choo cited for Yoon's work suspension include six major points: ▲inappropriate contact with media company owners ▲illegal surveillance of major case trial courts, including former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's case ▲obstruction of inspection related to the Channel A case and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's case ▲leakage of information related to the Channel A case inspection ▲damage to dignity and trust regarding political neutrality ▲violation of cooperation obligations and obstruction of inspection during the face-to-face investigation process.