Prosecutor General Yoon Effectively Accepts Minister Chu's Command
Ministry of Justice: "Late but in Line with Public Wishes"
Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae (left) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The Ministry of Justice and the prosecution, which had been at odds over the investigation into the collusion between prosecutors and journalists, are seeking to resolve the conflict while avoiding a direct confrontation.
On the 9th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office informed the media that the Prosecutor General has already lost his investigative command authority due to the investigative directive issued by Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae.
Although the proposal for an 'Independent Investigation Headquarters' submitted to the Ministry of Justice the previous day was rejected by Minister Chu, the minister's investigative directive on the 2nd, which ordered the Prosecutor General to step back from the investigation, has already taken effect. In other words, it means that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol did not 'refuse' the minister's command, suggesting that Minister Chu may be trying to preempt any attempts to investigate or discipline Prosecutor General Yoon.
In a text message sent to reporters on the morning of the same day, a spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "The revocation of investigative command authority is a formative disposition, and unless canceled through litigation procedures, the state of lost command authority occurs," adding, "As a result, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office will conduct the investigation (into the collusion between prosecutors and journalists) independently. This fact has already been notified to the Central District Prosecutors' Office."
Minister Chu's investigative directive takes immediate effect after issuance, regardless of whether the Supreme Prosecutors' Office accepts it or proposes alternatives. Since the Supreme Prosecutors' Office rejected the alternative of establishing an Independent Investigation Headquarters, it notified the Central District Prosecutors' Office on the morning of the same day that it would conduct the investigation independently as per the existing directive.
Regarding the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's explanation, the Ministry of Justice promptly issued a statement saying, "Although belated, the Prosecutor General's decision to avoid command himself and allow the investigation team to conduct an independent investigation in accordance with the minister's directive aligns with the public's wishes."
Meanwhile, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office also revealed on the same day that the proposal to establish an Independent Investigation Headquarters headed by the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief was suggested by the Ministry of Justice and publicly proposed by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. By emphasizing that Minister Chu rejected the proposal accepted and announced by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, it appears they are attributing the 'breakdown of negotiations' to Minister Chu.
However, the Ministry of Justice responded with a completely opposite explanation, stating, "The request to appoint the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief as team leader came from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the Ministry's staff reviewed it," adding, "This request was never reported to the minister, nor was there any mention of establishing an Independent Investigation Headquarters or a request to publicly propose it to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
