Hong Jun-pyo: "Moon would be grateful to Chu Mi-ae for covering up tyranny and misrule"

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo is speaking at the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary meeting on the 6th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the 26th, Hong Joon-pyo, an independent member of the National Assembly, said, "President Moon Jae-in must be very grateful to Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae" regarding Minister Chu Mi-ae's disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the same day, Hong said on his Facebook, "There is a movie called Gladiator starring Russell Crowe from over 20 years ago," adding, "Watching the recent drama between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon gives a strange feeling as if watching gladiators in the Roman Colosseum."

He continued, "At that time, Roman Emperor Commodus held gladiator games for 100 days to hide his tyranny and mismanagement, and Roman citizens were so enthusiastic about the deadly fights that they temporarily forgot Commodus's tyranny and mismanagement," adding, "President Moon Jae-in's silence and tacit approval of the Chu-Yoon brawl reminds me of Roman Emperor Commodus."

He further stated, "Because he is now witnessing the twofold effect of covering up his tyranny and mismanagement while even engulfing the opposition party," and said, "He must be very grateful to Minister Chu."

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is explaining the reasons for the disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol regarding the inspection results at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the 24th at 6 p.m., Minister Chu held a briefing at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room, stating, "The Ministry of Justice conducted a direct inspection into multiple allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General and confirmed numerous serious and grave allegations," and announced the disciplinary request and suspension order against Prosecutor General Yoon.

In response, Prosecutor General Yoon emphasized in a statement distributed to the media on the same day, "I will legally respond to the unlawful and unjust measures to the end," and stressed, "I have fulfilled my duties as Prosecutor General without any shame to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution."