"Cowardly President"... Chu Mi-ae's 'Yoon Seok-yeol Job Suspension' Sparks Flood of Criticism from Opposition

Choo Mi-ae Requests Disciplinary Action and Job Suspension for Yoon Seok-yeol... Unprecedented in Constitutional History
Opposition: "Moon, What Are You So Afraid Of?", "A President Who Remains Silent"

On the 24th, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae held an emergency briefing at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office's conference room regarding the inspection results of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, announcing the plan to request disciplinary action and suspend him from duty.
The photo shows Minister Choo (right) attending the Cabinet meeting that morning and Prosecutor General Yoon arriving at work. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae excluded Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol from his duties and requested disciplinary action, voices from the opposition party on the 25th are rising, criticizing Minister Choo and urging the appointing authority, President Moon Jae-in, to take a stance. This is the first time in constitutional history that a sitting Prosecutor General has been ordered to suspend duties, but President Moon has not issued a separate statement on the matter.

Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, released a statement that day, saying, "The Minister of Justice, who should uphold the law, admitted herself that 'prosecutorial reform cannot be achieved by systems and laws alone,' acknowledging an extralegal overreach," and criticized it as "the worst move that cannot be undone by anything."

He continued, "I remember the embarrassing praises from ruling party lawmakers who welcomed Prosecutor General Yoon's appointment," adding, "Their words and writings have now become a dagger that pierces themselves. These frivolous people, swayed back and forth by political interests, are running the government."

Spokesperson Yoon also addressed President Moon, saying, "Weren't you the president who said, 'Handle matters fairly without being swayed by power, without being cautious, and without loyalty to individuals'?" He emphasized, "Only the president can stop Minister Choo's reckless actions. Only the president can uphold the rule of law."

Jung Jin-seok, a five-term lawmaker from the People Power Party, also harshly criticized President Moon, calling him "a truly cowardly president." On the same day, through his Facebook, he pointed out, "The person who appointed Yoon Seok-yeol as Prosecutor General to strictly investigate the living power has tightly bound Yoon to paralyze the prosecution as the investigation net around power narrows layer by layer."

He added, "Yesterday (the 24th), the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office indicted Yoon's mother-in-law without detention, and as if waiting for this, Minister Choo excluded the sitting Prosecutor General from his duties," raising his voice, "It's a well-scripted scenario. President Moon, what are you so afraid of? What is so urgent?"

He further stated, "The tyranny of the Moon administration, led by Minister Choo, is an unprecedented violation of the rule of law that we have neither heard of nor experienced," and "I ask President Moon once again. Why on earth are you doing this to Prosecutor General Yoon? Is it because power is waning, the road ahead is long, and there is no time to be picky? Is this really the way for the Moon administration to survive?" he repeatedly criticized.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is expressing his position on Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol at an emergency press conference held at the National Assembly on the 25th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the same party, also joined the chorus of criticism. Through his Facebook that day, he sarcastically said, "Thanks to President Moon, who is incompetent and losing presence, and Minister Choo, who acts as if South Korea is her own stage, the people of South Korea are vividly learning on the ground why liberal democracy is necessary and why they must fight against power."

He continued, "History will record the Moon administration as 'a revival of dictatorship disguised as democracy,' while simultaneously marking the time as the beginning of a vigorous march toward true liberal democracy," adding, "No matter how brilliantly they dance the sword dance disguised as reform for privatization of power and permanent rule, the common people who made today's proud South Korea will fight even more fiercely for liberal democracy without fear."

Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker, also raised his voice in criticism toward President Moon, who remains silent. On his Facebook, he wrote, "President Moon is very strange. Even though Minister Choo is blatantly trying to drive out Prosecutor General Yoon, who is investigating corruption in the living power, President Moon remains silent," and pointed out, "The president's silence is helping Minister Choo's atrocities and trying to drive out Prosecutor General Yoon together."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is attending the full meeting of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 25th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the day before, Minister Choo excluded Prosecutor General Yoon from his duties and requested disciplinary action. This is the first time in constitutional history that a sitting Prosecutor General has been ordered to suspend duties.

At a briefing held at the first-floor press room of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office that day, Minister Choo said, "We have confirmed multiple serious and grave allegations of misconduct by the Prosecutor General," adding, "As the Minister of Justice, the highest supervisor of prosecutorial affairs, I judged that it is no longer acceptable for the Prosecutor General to perform his duties as Prosecutor General, and today I requested disciplinary action against the Prosecutor General and ordered the suspension of his duties."

The main allegations of misconduct Minister Choo cited against Prosecutor General Yoon include ▲ inappropriate contact with media company owners ▲ illegal surveillance of trial panels in major cases such as the former Minister Cho Kuk case ▲ information trading related to inspections with the media ▲ violation of cooperation obligations and obstruction of inspections during the face-to-face investigation of the Prosecutor General ▲ damage to the dignity and trust of the Prosecutor General regarding political neutrality.

Although President Moon reportedly received prior reports related to this, he did not make any separate remarks. Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, told reporters in a message that day, "President Moon received related reports just before the announcement by the Minister of Justice," and "There was no separate comment on it."