Beopseoryeon Files Complaint with Supreme Prosecutors' Office Against Minister Choo Mi-ae for Abuse of Power
Sasaehaeng Accuses Prosecutor General Yoon of False Testimony at National Assembly Audit
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The National Assembly inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, where Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol faced off, is taking the form of a proxy battle. On the 26th, Minister Chu was accused of abuse of authority, and on the same day, Prosecutor General Yoon was also reported to the prosecution for giving false testimony during the inspection.
The Action Alliance for Establishing the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) announced on the 26th that it would file a complaint against Minister Chu at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for abuse of authority. Beopse-ryeon stated, "Minister Chu's order for a joint inspection by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is clearly an abuse of authority and nothing more than an empty political stunt for media play," adding, "Ordering the inspection is effectively providing an investigation guideline and illegally interfering with the investigation."
They continued, "According to Article 12 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, 'The Prosecutor General is responsible for managing the affairs of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, overseeing prosecution affairs, and commanding and supervising prosecutors' office officials,' so the authority to inspect the Supreme Prosecutors' Office also belongs to the Prosecutor General," and said, "Minister Chu issuing a direct inspection order to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office without authority violates the Prosecutors' Office Act and constitutes a clear abuse of power."
Earlier, on the 22nd, Minister Chu had instructed a joint inspection by the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Department and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department during the National Assembly inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office regarding the Lime scandal, including whether investigation reports were concealed and allegations of discriminatory investigations related to opposition party politicians.
On the same day, the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasehaeng) filed a complaint against Prosecutor General Yoon for perjury under the National Assembly Testimony and Inspection Act and obstruction of official duties. Sasehaeng pointed out, "During the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection, Prosecutor General Yoon testified that he had 'never received a report' on the Optimus case, but when pressed with the question, 'Did you not know about the damage to private investors?' he changed his statement, saying there was no damage and that he had received a report that the Korea Radio Promotion Association had requested an investigation."
They argued, "Prosecutor General Yoon's statements that he had never received a report on the Optimus case while serving as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and that there was no damage, along with his statement that he received a report that the Korea Radio Promotion Association requested an investigation, are mutually contradictory."
They also claimed that Prosecutor General Yoon's denial of having received reports about misconduct involving entertainment of active prosecutors related to the Lime case was false testimony. They emphasized, "According to media reports, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office visited the room salon where active prosecutors were entertained and investigated the entertainment misconduct," adding, "At the time when the head of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office directly reported to Prosecutor General Yoon regarding the Lime case investigation, it is highly likely that he was also informed about the entertainment misconduct, so the statement that he never received such a report should be regarded as false."
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