Sangdon Lee: "Both Chu and Yoon Must Be Dismissed... A National Embarrassment"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Lee Sang-don, a former emergency committee member of the Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) and former Minsaeng Party lawmaker, criticized the so-called 'Chu-Yoon conflict,' saying it is "embarrassing to watch and shameful for the country."

In an interview on the 26th with YTN Radio's 'Lee Dong-hyung's News Face-off,' Lee said, "From my perspective, the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General are fighting using every trivial legal theory."

He added, "For countries like Japan, which have a keen interest in our domestic politics, how entertaining must this be? I believe the President should take this situation seriously, take responsibility, and resolve it."

Agreeing with the opinion that the 'Chu-Yoon conflict' has caused considerable fatigue among the public, Lee said, "I think both should be dismissed. As the head of the executive branch, the President's appointment authority over political appointees should take precedence over the Prosecutors' Office Act."

He continued, "The very idea of disciplining or referring the Prosecutor General for inspection is immature, ridiculous, and pathetic. Isn't the Prosecutor General a politically appointed person?" He added, "The principle is that the President should either take political responsibility or remove them. The longer this issue drags on, the more the ruling party and government will sink into a quagmire."

Earlier, on the 24th, Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae decided to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from duty and requested disciplinary action. In response, on the 26th, Prosecutor General Yoon filed an administrative lawsuit against Minister Chu, demanding the cancellation of the suspension order.