[2020 National Audit] Yoon Seok-yeol "There Were Many Overt Personnel Changes After January"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol referred to the personnel appointments made after Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae took office as "blatant personnel moves." This statement reflects Yoon's true feelings about the prosecution personnel changes since Minister Choo's inauguration and is expected to cause considerable repercussions going forward.

On the 22nd, during the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit, in response to People Power Party lawmaker Jo Su-jin's question, "Has it gotten worse than the previous administration you called a corrupt regime?" Yoon stated, "Except for the first year when I investigated the National Intelligence Service, I have been stationed in the provinces continuously. When prosecution personnel appointments appeared in the newspapers, I didn't even look at them."

Additionally, in response to Jo's question, "Are you demoted when you investigate the ruling power?" Yoon replied, "I have experienced that myself in the past," adding, "It is something well known inside and outside the prosecution, and it has happened many times." Yoon revealed, "I have been a prosecutor for 26 years. In 2003, I was dispatched to the presidential election fund investigation team and investigated the president's special overtime work. The senior prosecutors involved in that investigation seemed to have been promoted, but as time goes by, the situation seems to be getting worse than before."

He continued, "In fact, I didn't want to go when I was dispatched to the special prosecutor's office. I was older than my peers because I took the exam late, and during my time as a prosecutor, I often thought it was all futile," adding, "But as I kept going, I came to this position. This position is heavy, and I have a responsibility to the people, so I am doing my best."

Meanwhile, Yoon also expressed his true feelings about the prosecution personnel appointments during the morning audit. He said about the recent personnel appointments, "There has never been a way to make personnel decisions after preparing the entire personnel plan like this," and "There was no substantial consultation process with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office." He added, "When I was told to draft a preliminary plan, I said, 'Minister, the prosecution department should at least provide a basic plan for me to work on,' but I was told, 'The personnel authority lies with the president, so the personnel plan is with the Blue House. I asked them to send it after giving their opinions.'" This confirms that the prosecution personnel appointments were carried out completely independently of Yoon's intentions. In fact, the Ministry of Justice this year was suspected of favoring prosecutors from the criminal and trial departments and demoting a large number of special investigation prosecutors. During this process, there were also criticisms that the Ministry of Justice made personnel decisions unilaterally without consulting Prosecutor General Yoon.