Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Parliament Attendance' Again Canceled... People Power Party Visits Judiciary Committee Chair in Protest

People Power Party "Yun Ho-jung, Did Not Even Send Summons to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office"
Yun Ho-jung "Summons Requires Resolution"
Yun Ho-jung Also Proposed Trade-off Between Yoon's Appearance and Passage of Three Economic Bills... "Intended to Request Good Coordination on the Legislative Schedule"

Kim Do-eup, the senior member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, and opposition lawmakers visited Yoon Ho-jung, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in protest at the National Assembly on the 26th. The People Power Party is demanding a full committee meeting to investigate the truth behind the suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.
Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Im Chunhan] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's appearance before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee was once again blocked due to opposition from the ruling party. The People Power Party strongly protested that Yoon Hojung, the committee chairman from the Democratic Party, did not even notify the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the summons, and on the 26th, they visited the chairman's office to lodge a complaint. The People Power Party plans to continue pressuring by resubmitting requests to convene the full committee meeting and summons demands.

Before the full committee meeting at 10 a.m., People Power Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee visited Chairman Yoon to strongly urge him to notify the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice about the meeting and send the summons. Voices from People Power Party lawmakers shouting "There is no dialogue," and "What are you saying?" were heard outside.

Kim Do-eup, the People Power Party secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said, "Chairman Yoon instructed the committee's administrative office not to notify the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the request to convene," adding, "As of now, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office have not received notification of the full committee meeting." Without notification of the meeting and summons, Prosecutor General Yoon cannot officially appear. Kim sharply criticized, "The path for Prosecutor General Yoon to appear has been completely blocked from the start."

At this meeting, Chairman Yoon reportedly proposed exchanging Prosecutor General Yoon's appearance for the passage of the three economic bills, according to People Power Party lawmaker Jo Su-jin. Chairman Yoon explained, "It was a suggestion that the bills and appearances could be exchanged politically between the party secretaries, hoping for a good resolution," and "It was meant to ask for good coordination of the schedule between the secretaries."

The People Power Party also attempted to have Prosecutor General Yoon appear in the National Assembly the previous day but failed. Although the request to convene was delivered to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Chairman Yoon adjourned the full committee meeting after about 10 minutes, citing unpreparedness. The People Power Party raised their voices, accusing Chairman Yoon and the Democratic Party of deliberately blocking Prosecutor General Yoon's opportunity to speak. Committee member Jo Su-jin said, "The public is curious whether the claims of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae are true, and for the public's right to know, Prosecutor General Yoon must come out," adding, "Prosecutor General Yoon said he would come if summoned, so if Chairman Yoon is willing to run the full meeting, he should make the request."

On the other hand, the Democratic Party views this as a political attack by the People Power Party. Baek Hye-ryun, the Democratic Party secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said the previous day, "It is suspicious whether this is an urgent inquiry or a political attack," and "We will carefully consider and decide on the People Power Party's request to convene." Lawmaker Park Ju-min also said on CBS Radio that day, "Prosecutor General Yoon is currently suspended from duty," and "There is no precedent for summoning someone who is suspended and facing disciplinary action to the committee to hear their position or give them a chance to explain."

Chairman Yoon also reacted angrily during the previous day's full committee meeting when it was mentioned that "Prosecutor General Yoon has now departed," saying, "Who did he talk to that he is coming on his own accord?" Regarding the criticism that the request to convene and summons were not sent to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, he drew a line, saying, "The request to convene has been submitted and sent to all relevant agencies," and "The schedule should be decided through consultation with the secretaries, and the summons must go through a resolution."

The People Power Party plans to continue demanding the convening of full committee meetings and summons. A People Power Party committee official said, "Even though the schedule was not coordinated, government officials such as the Deputy Minister of Justice appeared at the bill subcommittee," adding, "It is customary to voluntarily appear once the meeting is scheduled and notified."