Departing Autumn: "Exercising Control Over the Prosecution Created an Irreversible Precedent"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 27th, Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae evaluated the conflict with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol as an "irreversible historical precedent" during her farewell ceremony. Although it was a series of large and small disturbances resisting reform, Minister Chu explained that it was a process for the normalization of the prosecution. Appointed as minister on January 2 last year, Minister Chu steps down after 391 days in office.

At 4 p.m. that day, Minister Chu's farewell ceremony was held at the Ministry of Justice Government Gwacheon Complex. To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), only Ministry of Justice executives attended the event. Minister Chu expressed her intention to resign during the session on December 16 last year, when she requested disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon to President Moon Jae-in.

At that time, President Moon highly praised Minister Chu's decision on her position and urged her to "fulfill her duties until the end." On the 30th of the same month, President Moon accepted Minister Chu's resignation and nominated Park Beom-gye, a former judge and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, as her successor.

In her farewell speech, Minister Chu said, "Based on the three principles of human rights, people's livelihood, and the rule of law, I have worked to solve the legal innovation tasks before us," adding, "However, I humbly reflect on whether we have fully met the expectations of the people."

She also mentioned the achievements of the Ministry of Justice during her tenure. Minister Chu stated, "We launched the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the number one pledge of the Moon Jae-in administration, and achieved solid results in legislative and institutional aspects such as adjusting investigative authority between the prosecution and police for reforming power institutions," and added, "We strengthened the criminal and trial divisions and established various institutional measures to ensure that the human rights of the people are thoroughly protected during investigative procedures."

Regarding the conflict with the prosecution organization, she self-assessed it as a "clear and irreversible historical precedent." Minister Chu explained that it was a process of exercising the minister's democratic control authority over the prosecution, which had become obsolete, to urge the normalization of the prosecution.

Finally, quoting former President Kim Dae-jung, she concluded her farewell speech: "We must not be discouraged when we should regret, not be anxious when we should be patient, and not hesitate when we should advance."

Meanwhile, Minister Chu visited the Seoul Eastern Detention Center as her last field visit during her term to inspect the COVID-19 quarantine situation. The appointment of her successor, candidate Park, is expected to take place on the same day. President Moon requested the National Assembly again the previous day to send the personnel hearing report on candidate Park by today.