Kim Nam-guk "Kim Hak-ui's Illegal Investigation on Travel Ban, Suspects Yoon's Retaliation" vs. Kim Geun-sik "As Expected, the Vanguard of Hardcore Moon Jae-in Supporters"

Kim Geunsik "Even the Most Hated Citizens Should Be Legally Banned from Leaving the Country as a Human Right"
Kim Namguk "Police, Not Prosecutors, Should Investigate Fairly"

Kim Geun-sik, Professor at Gyeongnam University and Chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong Party Committee of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the prosecution plans to investigate allegations of illegality surrounding the travel ban imposed on former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui, a verbal clash erupted between Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and chairman of the People Power Party’s Songpa-byeong district in Seoul.

When Representative Kim pointed out that "there is a strong suspicion of retaliatory prosecution by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol," Professor Kim countered by saying it was "a case of reverse deflection."

On the 17th, Professor Kim posted on his Facebook, sarcastically criticizing, "As expected of Representative Kim Nam-guk. Truly the vanguard of the Cho Kuk investigation squad and the hardcore Moon Jae-in supporters (referred to as 'Daekkaemun')."

He continued, "Representative Kim conclusively claims that the illegal travel ban incident was ordered by former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, and instead of holding Moon accountable, he launched into a 'nonsense rant' accusing Yoon Seok-yeol of retaliatory prosecution. It seems Moon Moo-il, who was struck by a mysterious blow and previously opposed Yoon’s suspension and disciplinary measures as a senior prosecutor, has been targeted."

He added, "An ordinary prosecutor dispatched to the past fact-finding team illegally executed the travel ban using forged documents without a prosecutor general’s seal or case number. Defending this is absurd in itself, and on top of that, Representative Kim shamelessly lies that the then Prosecutor General and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office leadership were involved."

Professor Kim emphasized, "Former Deputy Minister Kim Hak-ui’s travel ban was justified by public outrage that he should not be allowed to leave the country, but no matter how much the public dislikes someone, imposing a travel ban through lawful procedures and methods is a matter of human rights and democracy."

Kim Nam-guk, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the previous day (16th), Representative Kim posted on Facebook, "Can anyone say that the investigation into former Deputy Minister Kim’s case, ordered by Prosecutor General Yoon, is not retaliatory? The responsible parties at the time were completely excluded, and only Lee Sung-yoon, head of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office investigating Yoon’s family case, and his line of prosecutors were targeted for investigation."

He added, "The promise to become a 'prosecution for the people' by zealously going after anyone disliked and catching them on any pretext is absolutely not the case."

He further stressed, "Since this investigation is fraught with misunderstandings and controversies, if a complaint is filed and limited investigative procedures must inevitably proceed, the investigation should be conducted fairly by the police, not the prosecution."