Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Recommends Suspension of Expert Investigation Advisory Panel Convening Procedure to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office

"Grant the Central District Prosecutors' Office Investigation Team Independence Equivalent to a Special Prosecutor"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon) requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 30th to halt the convening process of the expert investigation advisory panel (advisory panel) regarding the 'prosecutor-media collusion' case and to guarantee the independence of the Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team.

Since Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol had already completed the selection of advisory panel members the day before, and the Central District Prosecutors' Office, which had previously refused the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's requests such as recommending candidates for the advisory panel, openly opposed the convening of the advisory panel as inappropriate, the conflict between the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Central District Prosecutors' Office is expected to intensify.

On the afternoon of the same day, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated, "Regarding the convening of the advisory panel for the 'Democratic Media Citizens' Coalition complaint case' and related matters, since the investigation is still ongoing and the relevant facts and substantive truth have not been sufficiently clarified at this stage, convening the advisory panel at this time is inappropriate in terms of timing and investigation confidentiality. Considering the simultaneous holding of the advisory panel and the prosecution investigation review committee, controversies related to the selection of advisory panel members, and the resulting abnormal and confusing situation, we requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office today to suspend the procedures related to the advisory panel."

It added, "Furthermore, considering the special nature of this case, in which allegations have been raised against senior prosecutors, and the public concern about it, we requested that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office be granted independence in its duties equivalent to that of a 'special prosecutor' to enhance public trust in the prosecution investigation."

Currently, regarding this case, the advisory panel convened by Prosecutor General Yoon and the Prosecution Investigation Review Committee, which was requested to be convened by Lee Cheol, former CEO of Value Investment Korea and who claims to be a victim of this case, are scheduled to be held sequentially with a time gap.