Direct Hit on 'Geonjilbeopsa' Controversy... "Deciding the Grave Responsibilities of Public Officials Based on a Taoist's Advice"
Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae strongly criticized Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, for refusing to conduct a search and seizure of the Shincheonji Daegu Church in the past. [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae strongly urged a focused investigation into the fact that Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, refused to order the seizure and search of the Shincheonji Daegu Church while serving as Prosecutor General. This appears to be aimed at the recent so-called 'shamanism controversy' surrounding candidate Yoon. In February 2020, a mass COVID-19 infection outbreak occurred centered on the Shincheonji Daegu Church.
On the 20th, former Minister Chu posted on her Facebook, stating, "On February 26, 2020, the list of believers submitted by Shincheonji was inaccurate, and location information of evangelism facilities was not fully disclosed, causing health authorities to struggle with rapid epidemiological investigations," adding, "As Minister of Justice, I issued orders on February 28 to all levels of prosecution offices to strongly respond to acts hindering quarantine."
Former Minister Chu continued, "However, shortly thereafter, a bizarre claim came from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office that 'with the general election approaching, where the regime would be judged by public sentiment due to quarantine failures, Prosecutor General Yoon instructed the front lines not to intervene,'" she said. "If such an order was indeed given, it would be insubordination and a political statement, which was puzzling. In fact, the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office dismissed search warrants twice, and opposition lawmakers at the time also supported the failure to conduct the Shincheonji search," she explained.
Then, former Minister Chu referred to the so-called 'shamanism controversy' surrounding candidate Yoon, saying, "(The) full truth has been revealed." Earlier, on the 17th, Segye Ilbo reported, citing an acquaintance of Jeon Mo, a shaman known as Geonjin Beopsa, that candidate Yoon received advice from Jeon Mo during the investigation process. This is interpreted as former Minister Chu's claim that Jeon Mo's influence was involved in Yoon's decision to refuse the Shincheonji search.
Former Minister Chu urged, "Three things must be questioned." She pointed out, "First, he calculated even the obligation to cooperate with quarantine investigations directly related to the lives of the people based on his own political advantage or disadvantage. Second, that he was already preparing to become president during his tenure as Prosecutor General and viewed his duties solely from the perspective of political gain or loss for becoming president." She also strongly criticized candidate Yoon's shamanism controversy again, saying, "It is unacceptable for a public official to make important decisions based on a shaman's advice."
Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae posted on her Facebook on the 20th, mentioning that Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, had refused the search and seizure of the Shincheonji Daegu Church. Photo by Former Minister Choo's Facebook capture
Meanwhile, on the 19th, the Democratic Party's Election Countermeasures Committee's National Verification Legal Support Group filed a complaint against candidate Yoon for abuse of power and neglect of duty. They stated, "(Candidate Yoon) is suspected of listening to a shaman during his time as Prosecutor General and ordering the refusal of the Shincheonji search," adding, "(There is) a great public suspicion regarding candidate Yoon. Since investigative agencies find it difficult to resolve public suspicion on their own, we have reluctantly filed the complaint."
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