Kim Yong-min "Is this a text a prosecutor should send to a lawmaker?"
Gwangju High Prosecutor General "Regrettable that public interest and harm were omitted"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, captured and publicly shared a text message from Cho Jong-tae, Chief Prosecutor of Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office, expressing protest regarding 'Geomsu Wanbak' (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights).
On the 20th, Kim shared a screenshot of the text message he received from Chief Prosecutor Cho on his Facebook, saying, "Is this a message a prosecutor should send to a legislator?"
He added, "Seeing such hostility, it seems they are preparing a retaliatory investigation against me soon."
In the text message sent to Kim, Chief Prosecutor Cho said, "I am truly ashamed. You asked if the National Assembly is a joke," and added, "I want to ask, is the public really that laughable?"
Earlier, on the 18th, during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's bill review subcommittee, when Kim Hyung-doo, Deputy Director of the Court Administration Office, suggested that opinions from various sectors should be gathered regarding Geomsu Wanbak, Kim questioned, "Do you think the National Assembly's discussion looks like a joke?"
Democratic Party member Choi Kang-wook also shared the text message Kim received, stating, "This kind of arrogance that suddenly betrays the people must be eradicated."
In response, Chief Prosecutor Cho explained the reason for sending the message through his own Facebook, saying, "I have worked with Representative Kim for a year on the Prosecutorial Reform Committee and know him well."
He explained, "The bill currently being promoted is a fundamental law directly related to the lives of the people. It is very regrettable that the most important 'people's' interests and 'people's' harm are missing in the process of such a significant bill. Therefore, as a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I sent this message to Representative Kim, who is leading the discussion, asking to place the people at the center of the discussion and review."
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