President Moon appoints Lee Yong-gu as new Deputy Minister of Justice
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized President Moon Jae-in's appointment of lawyer Lee Yong-gu (former head of the Ministry of Justice Legal Affairs Office) as the new Deputy Minister of Justice on the 2nd, saying, "It is as if the president is declaring a public war against the people."
On the same day, Jin posted on his Facebook, "President Moon swiftly appointed the deputy minister. Although the grounds for disciplinary action have disappeared, it seems they intend to proceed with the disciplinary committee," he said.
He added, "They are obsessed with a militaristic mindset of 'If we lose here, we die.' Therefore, this is not a matter to be handled according to laws and procedures, but rather a military crisis that must be overcome even by ignoring laws and procedures."
Jin predicted, "The disciplinary committee meeting is confirmed, and there are two possibilities: First, in the case of a minor disciplinary action, Chief Prosecutor Yoon will continue his term, but they can at least gather minimal excuses for the foolish acts they have done so far. Second, a major disciplinary action equivalent to dismissal. The Blue House is likely considering the latter."
He continued, "Anyway, it is top-down. The conclusion has already been made, and the rest is just a formality to fit the procedure," adding, "If the disciplinary committee votes for Chief Prosecutor Yoon's dismissal and the president accepts it, a serious situation will arise."
He further stated, "It is as if the president is declaring a public war against the people. When democracy is attacked, citizens have no choice but to resist."
Jin sarcastically targeted the new deputy minister Lee Yong-gu, who is from the progressive judges' group Uri Beop Yeonguhoe, saying, "He is also from 'your Beop Yeonguhoe'."
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was unable to go to work due to the decision to exclude him from duty by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu on the afternoon of the 1st. [Image source=Yonhap News]
He also said, "Deputy Minister of Justice Ko Ki-young's resignation means that the convening of the disciplinary committee against Chief Prosecutor Yoon is unjust," adding, "He cannot stain his hands with the blood of innocent people by participating in such an absurd disciplinary committee."
Jin stated, "The six false accusations that Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae imposed on Chief Prosecutor Yoon have all been proven baseless," explaining, "Five of them were entirely dismissed by the court's rejection of search warrants, and only one judge's document was permitted, but in the end, no other documents were found."
He continued, "This is a tactic commonly used by totalitarian regimes," saying, "Totalitarian states like top-down approaches. They make a ruling first, then start investigations accordingly, discover fabricated evidence, and finally create illegal acts."
Meanwhile, former Deputy Minister of Justice Ko Ki-young submitted his resignation on the 30th of last month ahead of the disciplinary committee meeting for Chief Prosecutor Yoon. In response, the Ministry of Justice postponed the disciplinary committee meeting to discuss the disciplinary measures against Chief Prosecutor Yoon from the 2nd to the 4th.
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