[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] It is reported that a deputy chief prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office loudly protested to the head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division over the indictment of Cho Kuk at a public event. This appears to be a manifestation of the conflict between the existing investigation team, which has been uncovering the administration's misconduct, and the faction appointed after Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae took office.
On the 18th, prosecutors visited the funeral hall for the father-in-law of a chief prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, set up at Samsung Seoul Hospital in Irwon-dong, Seoul. At this gathering, Senior Researcher Yang Seok-jo of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division reportedly confronted his direct superior, Division Chief Shim Jae-cheol, with remarks such as "Why was former Minister Cho cleared of charges?" and "Are you even a prosecutor?" Yang, who led the investigation into Cho Kuk alongside former Division Chief Han Dong-hoon, expressed his opposition. Shim reportedly listened without much response and then left the venue. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol was said to have been briefly absent at the time.
Last week, at a meeting presided over by the Prosecutor General, Division Chief Shim reportedly expressed the opinion that "the charges against former Minister Cho should be re-examined from the beginning." In particular, Shim voiced the view that the decision to halt the inspection of former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo was within the authority of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and was not a wrongdoing, but Prosecutor General Yoon reportedly did not accept this opinion.
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