[Summary] "Jeon Du-hwan-level Idea" "Treasonous Criminal" Ruling Party Launches Full-Scale Pressure Campaign for Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation

Kim Han-gyu "Abuse of Authority Charge for Surveillance Allegations"
Hwang Unha "Picking Fights Against the Living Power... Trampling Neutrality"
Kim Doo-kwan "Obsessed with Prosecutorial Politics... Judge Surveillance, Jeon Doo-hwan-Level Idea"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae (left), Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (right). / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Criticism from the ruling party against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who is suspected of 'judicial surveillance,' continues day after day. The ruling party has been using harsh expressions such as "Jeon Du-hwan level" and "traitor" toward Yoon, urging him to resign voluntarily.

On the 29th, Kim Han-gyu, the legal spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, issued a statement addressing Prosecutor General Yoon, saying, "If, as he claims, his actions are legally permitted and legitimate for maintaining the trial, we ask whether he has collected information in the past and whether he will continue to gather the tendencies of 2,872 judges in the future." He added, "If he cannot answer 'yes,' it means he acknowledges that his actions are illegal."

He continued, "Disclosing information to other departments violates the Personal Information Protection Act, and instructing prosecutors to create such illegal documents constitutes abuse of authority," urging, "We hope he sincerely participates in the disciplinary process, provides explanations, and accepts the judgment of the disciplinary committee."

On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan criticized on his Facebook post, "Prosecutor General Yoon must step down immediately. He has failed to be loyal to the nation and the public. Instead, he has been loyal to himself and the prosecution organization." He added, "Yoon surveilled the judiciary and investigated the president's nuclear power policy. He has abandoned being the nation's prosecution and the prosecution of democracy."

He further stated, "Since his inauguration, he has been obsessed only with 'prosecutorial politics' attacking the president. When no crime was found in cases targeting the president, such as the Cho Kuk case or the Ulsan city special investigation case, he resorted to a Jeon Du-hwan-level idea of surveilling judges," emphasizing, "The prosecution republic must end with Yoon Seok-yeol's departure. The Ministry of Justice's inspection and suspension from duty are absolutely justified."

Hwang Unha, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a greeting at a forum on improving the independence of investigative agency oversight bodies held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building last July. Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Un-ha raised his voice, saying that even if the court accepts Yoon's injunction request for suspension from duty, he should be dismissed through disciplinary action.

On the same day, Hwang posted on his Facebook, "Yoon recklessly jumped into areas that should be restrained, inciting fierce confrontations between factions and regressing democracy. For this alone, he deserves to be judged as a traitor in the court of history," he criticized.

He added, "Though he acted recklessly like a puppy unaware of the dangers of a tiger, there have been many painful processes hoping for his self-reflection. Even if the court accepts the injunction, Yoon must be removed swiftly through disciplinary procedures," he emphasized.

He also pointed out, "Most of the dark history of the prosecution involved serving regimes and leading the elimination of political opponents, but Yoon did the exact opposite by abusing prosecutorial power through trivial accusations and forced interpretations against the living power," adding, "Both are equally trampling on political neutrality."

Meanwhile, the Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 4 (Chief Judge Cho Mi-yeon) will hold a closed hearing today (the 30th) on Yoon's request for suspension of the execution of the 'suspension from duty' order filed against Minister Choo. It is reported that Yoon will not attend the hearing. If the court accepts Yoon's request for suspension of execution, he will be able to immediately return to his duties as Prosecutor General.