People Power Party: "Is ordering 'collective action' to a judge-turned-lawyer judicial reform?"

On the 30th, first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party held a press conference in front of the Blue House in Seoul, demanding President Moon Jae-in's statement on the conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The ruling party members of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee demanded an explanation, claiming that "a ruling party official instructed former judges turned lawyers to engage in collective action." They also stated that if Yoon Ho-jung, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, does not clarify the opposition party's demand to replace the opposition party's judiciary committee secretary and the abusive remarks in the 'jirasi' (rumor) incident, they will not cooperate with the Judiciary Committee.

On the 30th, the ruling party judiciary committee members held a press conference and said, "Is ordering active judges and former judges turned lawyers to take 'collective action' the 'prosecutorial reform' that the ruling party has advocated? The ruling party judiciary committee members must clarify this."

They raised their voices, saying, "On the evening of the 26th, a ruling party judiciary committee member said on a phone call with someone at the Judiciary Committee administrative office on the 4th floor of the National Assembly main building, 'Active judges need to move. If active judges find it difficult, former judges turned lawyers should rise up. Please arrange this.' The ruling party judiciary committee member also said, '(Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol) seems to be free from illegality. (Judges or former judges turned lawyers) need to wage a public opinion battle.'

They also demanded an official apology from Chairman Yoon. The judiciary committee members said, "We have demanded an official apology for Chairman Yoon's various abuses of power (such as the demand to replace the opposition party judiciary committee secretary, derogatory remarks toward aides, verbal abuse toward opposition party judiciary committee members who are former journalists, and the media), but as of the morning of the 30th, there has been no apology," adding, "Without an official apology, we cannot participate in a 'selective Judiciary Committee.'

They also raised suspicions about the search and seizure of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Investigation Information Division. The judiciary committee members pointed out, "Various suspicions such as 'prior consultation with the Ministry of Justice' and 'illegal and unjust search and seizure' are growing regarding the search and seizure of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Investigation Information Division. We requested materials from the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Headquarters, including ▲the list of items specified in the search warrant ▲the list of items actually seized ▲whether the head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department reported and approved the acting prosecutor general during the search and seizure process, but no response has been received for three days."

They added, "If no response is given by 6 p.m. today, it can only be regarded as an admission of 'reckless, futile, and illegal search and seizure' aimed at ousting Prosecutor General Yoon."

The judiciary committee members said, "The Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea plan to file a complaint against Minister Choo on charges of abuse of authority with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the morning of the 1st of next month," adding, "It is questionable whether there has ever been a Minister of Justice who has been reported this many times in just over a year of tenure."