Yoon Seok-yeol: "The Prosecutor General Is Not a Minister's Subordinate"... Ruling Party: "He Has Finally Crossed the Line"

Yoon on Prosecutor Personnel Moves: "That's Not How It's Done"
Ruling Party: "Is He Saying He Won't Take Presidential Orders?", "Only See Politician Yoon Seok-yeol"

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is arguing with Park Beom-gye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol unleashed a series of 'deliberate remarks' at the National Assembly audit on the 22nd, condemning Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's personnel decisions and stating, "The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice." Meanwhile, the ruling party strongly criticized Yoon's remarks as "crossing the line."

At the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held that day, Prosecutor General Yoon, attending the session, said regarding Minister Choo's exercise of investigative command authority, "The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice," adding, "Since the minister is fundamentally a politician, (if that is the case) it becomes a matter far removed from the political neutrality of the prosecution and the independence of the judiciary."

Yoon further stated, "I believe it is certain that the minister's investigative command is illegal in terms of grounds and purpose," and criticized, "To strip the Prosecutor General of command authority and to attack the prosecution based on the words of a person expected to receive a heavy sentence is truly irrational."

He also expressed displeasure over the personnel reshuffle conducted since Minister Choo took office in January. Yoon said, "There has never been a way to arrange personnel in such a manner after having already finalized the personnel plan," adding, "There was no substantial consultation process with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol briefly closes his eyes and is lost in thought during the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In this regard, the Democratic Party of Korea directly criticized Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks. Democratic Party Supreme Council Member Noh Woong-rae pointed out in a post titled "Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, You Crossed the Line" that "The Prosecutor General is clearly subject to the command of the Minister of Justice according to Article 8 of the Prosecutors' Office Act." The current Article 8 of the Prosecutors' Office Act stipulates that "The Minister of Justice is the highest supervisor of prosecutorial affairs and generally commands and supervises prosecutors, and only the Prosecutor General commands and supervises specific cases."

Supreme Council Member Noh criticized, "However, saying that the Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice is no different from saying 'I have no superior or subordinate,' 'I will not follow orders,' and ultimately, defiance," adding, "Saying that even if you receive orders, you are not a subordinate is like saying you did not drive under the influence even though you drank and drove. It is a petty wordplay."

He continued, "(Yoon) even claimed that the Minister of Justice's investigative command was illegal," and questioned, "Is it that investigations into other people's families are lawful, but investigations involving his own family are an untouchable sanctuary?"

He also said, "Yoon has definitely crossed the line. His arbitrariness and stubbornness have gone far beyond limits," adding, "He is trapped in a self-righteousness that no one can give him orders and that only he is right."

On the same day, Democratic Party Senior Deputy Spokesperson Park Jin-young also criticized Yoon in a statement, saying, "If the prosecution is to be neutral and refuses to be controlled by the political Minister of Justice, does that mean it will not take orders from the president elected by the people?" and asked, "Did the prosecution's authority just fall from the sky?"

He added, "The Prosecutor General takes orders from the Minister of Justice, who is delegated authority by the president. The Prosecutors' Office Act exists as a subordinate law to the Ministry of Justice under the Government Organization Act," and pointed out, "However, to guarantee political neutrality, the independence of investigations is ensured, and daily command is not exercised."

He also said, "It seems Yoon has forgotten why he came to the audit. Instead of showing off like a warrior before the people's representatives, he should have first apologized to the public regarding allegations of misconduct by prosecutors, the bypassing of the Anti-Corruption Department head in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against regulations, and the fact that there is a case involving his family, regardless of guilt or innocence," adding, "That would be common sense."

Democratic Party Floor Spokesperson Hong Jeong-min also joined the chorus of criticism. In a briefing that day, he said, "We see nothing but the politician Yoon Seok-yeol, not Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol," and expressed regret over remarks that exceeded the position of Prosecutor General.

He continued, "Yoon denied the law by saying 'The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister of Justice,' and did not hesitate to make dangerously high-level remarks criticizing the principle of democratic governance that the people's representatives control the executive branch, saying 'Since the minister is fundamentally a politician, it is far from the political neutrality of the prosecution and the independence of the judiciary.'"