"Family-Related Investigations Were Not Reported Initially"
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 19th, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol expressed acceptance of Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae's investigative directive that excluded the Prosecutor General's authority over five cases, including the Lime case and allegations involving his family.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated immediately after Minister Chu's exercise of investigative authority, "Due to today's Ministry of Justice action, the Prosecutor General can no longer direct the investigation of the Lime case."
It added, "The investigation team should strictly recognize the responsibilities of the prosecution and thoroughly punish both the forces that committed large-scale fund fraud and those that protected them, wiping away the tears of the victims and meeting the expectations of the public."
After expressing this stance, a Supreme Prosecutors' Office official explained, "The Prosecutor General did not make separate remarks regarding the family cases related to the Minister's investigative directive because he was never involved in or received reports on investigations related to his family from the beginning, so there was no need to state a separate position."
He added, "However, the mention regarding the Lime investigation was intended as a request for prosecutors to investigate the raised suspicions swiftly and impartially."
On the same day, Minister Chu excluded Prosecutor General Yoon's investigative authority over five cases through her directive: ▲ the Lime Asset Management case involving allegations of misconduct and cover-up by prosecutors and politicians, and suspicion of fabricated investigations ▲ bribery case involving sponsorship money related to Cobana Co., Ltd. ▲ stock price manipulation and preferential stock trading allegations related to Deutsche Motors and Deutsche Financial ▲ illegal medical institution establishment related to nursing hospital operations, fraud of nursing care benefits, and allegations of case dismissal and cover-up related to these and other investment-related complaints ▲ bribery case involving a former Yongsan tax office chief, dismissal of related search warrants, and allegations of case dismissal, and instructed that only investigation results be reported to her.
In the investigative directive, Minister Chu listed various allegations raised in the Lime case and cases related to Prosecutor General Yoon's family, stating, "Recently raised allegations in the Lime Asset Management lobbying case and cases involving the Prosecutor General himself, his family, and close associates have surfaced. Since the Lime lobbying case cannot exclude the Prosecutor General's involvement in the fact-finding process, a more fair and independent investigation than ever before is necessary," explaining the background of this investigative directive.
Following the July 'media-prosecution collusion' case, Minister Chu's second exclusion of Prosecutor General Yoon's investigative authority over specific cases has inevitably deepened the conflict between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon, as well as between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Depending on the investigation results of the cases from which Minister Chu excluded Prosecutor General Yoon's involvement, it is expected that one side will find it difficult to avoid a fatal blow.
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