Relentless Choo... Intensified Prosecution Backlash Over Inspection and Investigation Command Rights

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Pressure on Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae is intensifying. With the initiation of inspections and the exercise of investigative command rights targeting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, Yoon's position is becoming increasingly precarious. Now, even within the prosecution, opposition against Minister Choo is growing. Signs of so-called 'prosecutorial turmoil (檢亂)' are emerging, especially among rank-and-file prosecutors.

The trigger was the National Assembly audit. After Prosecutor General Yoon stated, "The Prosecutor General is not a subordinate of the Minister," Minister Choo escalated her attacks. In response to Yoon's remark that the exercise of investigative command rights "could be perceived as involvement in investigation or prosecution," Minister Choo stated, "As the Minister of Justice, it was naturally necessary according to legal procedures."

In particular, Minister Choo criticized Yoon's politically related remarks made during the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit, saying, "As the Prosecutor General who must maintain political neutrality, he crossed the line." She pointed out that Yoon's political comments were "considerably imprudent." Previously, during the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit, Yoon avoided a direct answer to People Power Party lawmaker Kim Do-eup's question, "Does politics enter into (service) methods?" by saying, "It is difficult to comment on that."

In the morning session, Minister Choo said, "As the Prosecutor General who must maintain political neutrality, he crossed the line," adding, "I feel very sorry and embarrassed." She further criticized, "As the head who should lead the prosecution impartially, even if he were to engage in politics tomorrow, he should have said here, 'I have no intention of engaging in politics at all.'"

The National Assembly audit was also where Minister Choo revealed a new inspection card targeting Prosecutor General Yoon. Regarding Yoon's meetings with media owners such as those of the Chosun Ilbo, she said, "There is a possibility of violating the Prosecutors' Code of Ethics," and added, "An inspection is underway, and I will report once the results are out."

Following the audit, inspections are progressing rapidly. Currently, the matters Minister Choo has ordered inspections on concerning Prosecutor General Yoon include four cases: ▲ Alleged concealment during the reporting process of prosecutor misconduct related to the Lime investigation ▲ Reporting system of misconduct allegations against opposition politicians ▲ Dismissal without charges regarding the 2018 Optimus investigation request by the Korea Communications and Broadcasting Promotion Agency ▲ Inappropriate meetings with owners of the Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo.

The cases on which Minister Choo has exercised investigative command rights are also gaining momentum. These include allegations that Yoon's wife was involved in stock price manipulation related to Deutsche Motors and preferential stock trading of Deutsche Financial, and allegations that Yoon's mother-in-law evaded investigation related to illegal medical institution establishment. The investigation team explained, "We are currently reviewing investigation materials; although the cases differ in nature, some involved parties overlap, so coordination such as inter-departmental allocation may occur." The suspicion of sponsorship money acceptance by the exhibition planning company operated by Yoon's wife is reportedly not yet assigned to an investigative department.

The lobbying allegations related to Lime Asset Management, which triggered the exercise of investigative command rights, are being investigated based on the testimony of former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun. Recently, searches and seizures were conducted at the residences and offices of prosecutors involved in the 'alcohol entertainment allegations.'

However, Minister Choo's successive inspection orders and exercise of investigative command rights are causing backlash among rank-and-file prosecutors. On the 28th, Prosecutor Lee Hwan-woo of Jeju District Prosecutors' Office struck a direct blow to Minister Choo through a post titled "Prosecutorial Reform Has Failed," stating, "I feel that personnel authority, command rights, and inspection rights are being abused without hiding their purpose and intentions."

Minister Choo responded by sharing a news article link containing negative content about Prosecutor Lee, saying, "Good. If you come out like this, reform is the only answer." Subsequently, on the prosecution's internal network e-Pros, Prosecutor Choi Jae-man of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office publicly criticized Minister Choo's Facebook post and expressed agreement with "I also come out," and the number of real-name comments continues to increase.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 27th to 29th among 1,001 people nationwide aged 18 and over showed that positive job evaluation of Minister Choo dropped 8 percentage points from three months ago to 32%. The negative rating was 56%. Prosecutor General Yoon's positive job evaluation also fell 4 percentage points to 39%, with a negative rating of 44%.