"Yoon Seok-yeol National Audit Proposal" Opposition's Counterattack Strategy... Ruling Party Also Shows Caution

Active Acceptance of Lee Nak-yeon's Demand for State Audit
Kim Jong-in Proposes 'Comprehensive State Audit'
Joo Ho-young Says "Chu Mi-ae Should Also Be Audited"
Ha Tae-kyung "Even If State Audit Fails, Witness Confrontation"
Park Joo-min "Some Caution Is Needed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] When Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, hinted at a parliamentary audit on Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, the opposition party instead welcomed the idea and called for accepting the demand for the audit. They argue that the process of the parliamentary audit could actually reveal his legitimacy and that they could summon Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae as a witness for a face-to-face confrontation. It is a kind of 'counterattack' strategy. Meanwhile, voices urging caution are emerging within the ruling party, creating a somewhat confused situation.

On the 26th, Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, proposed a "comprehensive parliamentary audit" to the Democratic Party regarding Justice Minister Choo’s suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon’s duties. At the emergency committee meeting that day, Kim said, "There are many criticisms that the unprecedented suspension of the Prosecutor General’s duties is very flimsy. Traces of not properly verifying even the basic facts are evident everywhere." He added, "Along with the reasons for suspending the Prosecutor General’s duties, a comprehensive parliamentary audit should be conducted to examine whether there were any issues with the Justice Minister’s investigative command authority, abuse of prosecutorial power, and excessive personnel authority."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, also said at the meeting that day, "The parliamentary audit on Minister Choo cannot be avoided. We demand it together," expressing willingness to actively accept Lee Nak-yeon’s call for a parliamentary audit on Prosecutor General Yoon. This came after Lee, at the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council meeting the previous day, said, "The charges against Prosecutor General Yoon revealed by the Ministry of Justice are shocking," and asked the party to consider pushing forward with the parliamentary audit. While the Democratic Party has yet to decide on a clear stance, the opposition party is taking the lead by accepting the demand first.

Senior members of the People Power Party went even further. Ha Tae-kyung, a three-term lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, "Even if the Democratic Party does not accept a parliamentary audit on Minister Choo, the People Power Party should accept a parliamentary audit on Prosecutor General Yoon," adding, "Since the reasons Minister Choo gave for suspending Prosecutor General Yoon’s duties lack grounds, it would not be disadvantageous for Yoon to appear at the audit." This implies that even if the audit on Minister Choo fails, she can be summoned as a witness during the audit on Prosecutor General Yoon.

Kim Ki-hyun, a four-term lawmaker, also raised his voice to accept the parliamentary audit, saying, "Was Prosecutor General Yoon really such a problematic prosecutor? Was he such a figure with so many offenses that the Blue House and the ruling party went to such lengths to disgrace and remove a prosecutor whose term is guaranteed? If so, why did the Blue House make such a fuss trying to appoint such a person as Prosecutor General in the first place? Let’s reveal all the details before the people." He emphasized that the parliamentary audit could resolve suspicions raised by the opposition, including ▲corruption involving the Cho Kuk family ▲manipulation of the Ulsan mayoral election ▲cover-up of Yoo Jae-soo’s inspection ▲power-related corruption related to the Lime and Optimus fund frauds ▲and suspicions about the early shutdown of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. Jeong Jin-seok, the longest-serving lawmaker in the party, also said on Facebook that day, "Lee Nak-yeon said the charges against Prosecutor General Yoon revealed by the Ministry of Justice are shocking and mentioned pushing for a parliamentary audit, but in my view, Lee’s words are even more shocking," adding, "Fine, let’s have the parliamentary audit."

Within the Democratic Party, some voices called for caution regarding the parliamentary audit. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min said on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' that "While parliamentary audits have the advantage of uncovering the truth, most audits become politicized issues, making it unclear what is what, and often end up like this," adding, "We need to be a bit cautious about moving forward with the parliamentary audit."