On the morning of October 15, at Gyeryongdae in Chungnam, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning during the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit of the Air Force Headquarters. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy, reporter Kim Seulgi] On December 1, Ha Taekyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized President Moon Jae-in, who indirectly reproached the prosecution by invoking the principle of "public before private interests (seongonghusa)," saying, "It's laughable to hear such words from someone who has admitted to owing a personal debt to Cho Kuk."
On his Facebook page that day, Ha wrote, "President Moon is urging prosecutors to adopt an attitude of seongonghusa, prioritizing the interests of the community over those of their own ministry or group," and made the above remarks.
He continued, "President Moon, who had been hiding behind Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, has finally come out and spoken, and his only message is seongonghusa. It seems he's saying this for the prosecutors to hear, but isn't the person who most needs to hear about seongonghusa actually President Moon himself, who has confessed to having a personal debt to Cho Kuk?"
He added, "When the prosecution investigates corruption involving those in power, trying to remove Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol in order to protect his own corrupt associates is not seongonghusa. In fact, aren't the frontline prosecutors the ones truly practicing seongonghusa?"
He stated, "Prosecutors who courageously call for justice even in the face of those in power are the hope of South Korea. If we are to create a society where the spirit of seongonghusa is alive, Minister Choo should be dismissed, and Prosecutor General Yoon should be allowed to uphold his convictions and investigate those in power."
The previous day, during a meeting with senior secretaries and aides at the Blue House, President Moon said, "If we cannot break free from past practices and culture, we will inevitably fall behind in the rapidly changing global trends."
He continued, "It is time for public officials to further reflect on their mindset. We must return to basics. Every public official must serve only the people and fulfill their duty to build a better nation." This is interpreted as an indirect criticism of the collective backlash within the prosecution over the conflict between Minister Choo and Prosecutor General Yoon.
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