Kim Jin-wook “Power cannot reign over the people”… Seok-Yeol Yoon “You have to look at the people only

With the Moon Jae-in administration reaffirming its willingness to devote itself to the `prosecution reform`, Kim Jin-wook’s first high-ranking officials criminal investigation chief nominee and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol made a contrasting remark, referring to `the people`. Immediately after his appointment, Kim nominee aimed at the prosecution, saying, “The power that reigns over the people should not exist,” and Yoon revealed that he would not be shaken by the draft, saying, “We must become a prosecutor who only looks at the people.”

On the morning of the 31st, Kim nominee came to work for the first time in the personnel hearing preparation office and met with reporters, saying, “There is concern that the airlift will become an omnipotent authority, but this authority is also the power received from the people.” Candidate Kim, who was nominated for the Vice-Minister of Public Transportation, went to work on the same day. “If you look at the Constitution, all power comes from the people,” he said. “Such power must not reign over the people, and it must not exist or exist in our Constitution.” The conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and President Yoon ended with President Yoon’s victory, and it is interpreted as a remark aimed at the prosecution again.

Regarding concerns about the damage to the neutrality of the airlift, which is raised around the opposition, Kim said, “It has been verified by the National Assembly and the Blue House, and finally, the process of public verification and the most important personnel hearing remains.” Said. Regarding the point that pro-government officials will occupy the deputy general manager after the launch of the airlift, he responded, “I think that concern is also speculation. I will accept it as being interested.” Pointing out that he was a judge and lacked investigative experience, he said, “There are other employees such as the deputy chief, prosecutor, and investigator, and not the chief of police alone.” Nominee Kim said, “The people expressed their expectations and concerns at the same time about the launch of the airlift,” and asked, “Please watch with interest in the airlift that is just being born.” Prior to this, nominee Kim met with reporters on the way home after the appointment of the Minister of Airlift the day before, and asked “I haven’t thought about it yet” and said, “I will tell you later at a personnel hearing and after that.” Answered. When asked, “Can you investigate the living power?” he said, “I will take my concerns as interest. Please watch.”

On the other hand, President Yoon expressed his opinion on the reform of the prosecution by using the word’national’ 14 times in the New Year’s address on this day. He said, “The prosecution’s changes and reforms are not achieved only by amendments to the criminal justice system and related laws,” he said. “The purpose and direction of the prosecution reform is to become a’fair prosecution’ and a’public prosecution’.”

He also said, “The’people’s prosecution’ means looking only at the people who are the source of the authority and not looking left and right.” He added, “The’fair prosecution’ is not biased in the entire process of investigation, prosecution, trial, etc. (investigation), does not have prejudices, and does not abuse the superior authority granted for the public interest of crime prevention.”

After the court’s decision to suspend disciplinary enforcement by the Ministry of Justice on the 24th, President Yoon made his first official opinion through a New Year’s address. Inside and outside the prosecution, it is interpreted that concerns about the current situation in which the government and passport’s agenda of’prosecution reform’ is a political issue are reflected. It is also interpreted that the prosecution showed a willingness not to be swayed by political drafts, emphasizing that it is the citizens, not the ruling powers, that the prosecution is subject to.

Justice Minister Park Beom-gye attended the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office on the same day and had a meeting with the hearing preparation group. He avoided answering the question to reporters that it is difficult to expect political neutrality as the Minister of Justice, saying, “I will tell you at the hearing.” Meanwhile, Minister Chu said in his New Year’s address, “There are major changes in the entire criminal justice system from 2021, including the reform of the investigative rights and the launch of the airlift,” and “I hope that all capabilities will be concentrated so that the new criminal justice process can function properly for the people.” Revealed.

[정희영 기자 / 류영욱 기자]
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