Ruling Party Expresses Concern Over Yoo Si-min's Criticism of Prosecutorial Reform

The ruling Democratic Party expressed concern on September 25 over comments made by author Yoo Si-min, who accused President Lee Jae-myung of deceiving the public regarding prosecutorial reform.

According to Yonhap News, spokesperson Shin Hyun-young spoke to reporters at the National Assembly, stating, "This is a crucial time for the implementation of prosecutorial reform, and comments like 'deceiving the public' could mislead supporters and the public, potentially undermining the momentum for reform."

Shin added, "I believe the President must have felt upset and perplexed by Yoo's remarks."

Regarding the possibility of legal action from the Blue House in response to Yoo's comments, Shin said, "If we communicate clearly about the ongoing prosecutorial reform, we might avoid legal disputes."

Individual lawmakers also criticized Yoo's statements, emphasizing the importance of unity within the party during the reform process. Lawmaker Chae Hyun-il pointed out on Facebook, "To assert 'deceiving the public' without considering the overall context is akin to focusing on a single tree while ignoring the vast forest of progress in prosecutorial reform."

Chae further stated, "The Lee Jae-myung administration is facing significant challenges, including eradicating insurrectionist forces and restoring the economy, while also achieving national unity. The fact that we have steadfastly pushed for institutionalizing prosecutorial reform amidst these challenges is nothing short of miraculous."

Five-term lawmaker Park Ji-won also criticized Yoo on Facebook the previous day, saying, "Look at the full moon. Why focus only on the dirt under your fingernail? This is excessive."

Park added, "Yoo's criticism of President Lee's prosecutorial reform, based on trivial details, represents a serious distortion that goes beyond mere excess. As a former minister in the Roh Moo-hyun administration, Yoo should compare the current situation, where the prosecution's investigative and prosecutorial powers are dismantled, to the past."