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| Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae leaves after a meeting of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Thursday. Yonhap |
By Jung Da-min
Opposition parties have strongly condemned Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's replacement of senior prosecutors, which they say is aimed at keeping the prosecution in check under Cheong Wa Dae.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), however, has expressed full support for the reassignment.
Their responses came on Thursday, a day after the ministry under the newly appointed Choo announced the reassignment of 32 senior prosecutors. Included are those who were leading investigations into major corruption scandals involving President Moon Jae-in's aides. Their replacement is widely expected to disrupt investigations.
Main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) floor leader Shim Jae-cheol vowed during a party meeting to file a legal complaint against the justice minister for "impeding the prosecutors' investigations and abusing her power."
"It is tantamount to violence to demote all the prosecutors who investigated corruption involving his (Moon's) aides," Shim said.
LKP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn said the Moon administration is trying to convert the prosecution to be "pro-Moon" and the party will hold the administration accountable for such an abuse of authority.
Minor opposition Bareun Mirae Party spokesman Kang Shin-eop also criticized the reshuffle, saying: "This reshuffle is a threat to the prosecution that prosecutors who investigate the current administration's corruption or offend the government will be harmed."
Among the prosecutors affected are Han Dong-hoon, who was looking into allegations that former Justice Minister Cho Kuk played a role in ending an inspection into bribery allegations involving a former Busan vice mayor, and Park Chan-ho, who was investigating the presidential office for suspected intervention in the 2018 mayoral election in Ulsan.
Han and Park, who had been at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, were sent to the Busan High Prosecutors' Office and the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office. They were considered to be close aides of Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl.
The DPK said the personnel reshuffle was necessary for prosecutorial reform, which has been pushed forward under the Moon administration.
"The reshuffle has brought balance in the prosecution which has been dominated by a specific personnel network," DPK floor leader Lee In-young said at a party meeting.
Lee also denounced complaints from the prosecution over the replacements, saying the President has the authority for the reshuffle and prosecutors, as public servants, should follow that authority.
