Minister Chu: "Disciplinary Request and Job Suspension"... Prosecutor General Yoon: "Legal Response" (Comprehensive)

Evidence of Contact with Media Owner and Obstruction of Inspection... Prosecutor General Yoon: "I Have Fulfilled My Duty Without Shame"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae has suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol from his duties. The suspension of a sitting Prosecutor General by the Minister of Justice is unprecedented, marking the final card played by Minister Chu, who has been pressuring Prosecutor General Yoon. However, controversy is expected to continue as Prosecutor General Yoon immediately opposed Minister Chu’s action and announced plans for legal countermeasures.

On the evening of the 24th, Minister Chu held a briefing at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office press room and stated, “I cannot help but report to the public the disciplinary request and suspension of duties against the Prosecutor General.”

She first disclosed that she had directly conducted an investigation into various allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General. According to Minister Chu, the investigation confirmed multiple serious and significant allegations of misconduct by the Prosecutor General. Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act stipulates that the Minister of Justice must file disciplinary charges against a Prosecutor General. Additionally, Article 8, Paragraph 2 of the same law allows the Minister of Justice to order the suspension of duties of the accused if deemed necessary.

The reasons Minister Chu cited for the suspension included: ▲ inappropriate contact with a media company owner ▲ illegal surveillance of major case trial panels including the former Minister Cho Kuk’s case ▲ obstruction of investigation and inspection related to the Channel A case and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook’s case ▲ obstruction during the face-to-face investigation of the Prosecutor General ▲ damage to trust regarding political neutrality.

Minister Chu mentioned that Prosecutor General Yoon violated the Prosecutor Ethics Code by having an inappropriate meeting with the owner of JoongAng Ilbo. According to the Ministry of Justice’s inspection results, in November 2018, while serving as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Yoon met Hong Seok-hyun, the de facto owner of JTBC and a party related to a case, at a pub in Jongno-gu, Seoul, engaging in inappropriate exchanges that could undermine fairness.

She also pointed out responsibility for illegal surveillance of judges presiding over major cases. Around February 2020, the Investigation Information Policy Office of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office prepared a report containing information such as “major political case rulings,” “membership in the Our Law Research Association,” and “family relations” related to judges of major case panels including the Ulsan case and former Minister Cho Kuk’s case. This report was then instructed to be delivered to the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division, according to Minister Chu. This means that personal information and disposition data of judges, which the Investigation Information Policy Office was not authorized to collect, were gathered and used, violating official duties.

She also conveyed the inspection results that Prosecutor General Yoon obstructed investigations related to the Channel A case and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook’s case. The inspection found that Yoon unjustifiably ordered the head of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Inspection Department to halt an inspection aimed at promptly investigating Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon. Despite delegating investigative command authority to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office department heads, Yoon forcibly convened a professional investigative advisory panel and abused supervisory and command authority unfairly, even amid opposition from the investigation team and department heads.

Minister Chu criticized Prosecutor General Yoon’s attitude during the National Assembly audit. She said, “The Prosecutor General must have the public’s trust in political neutrality more than any other position, and the Constitution and laws clearly state that no words or actions that could raise suspicion about this should be made. However, the Prosecutor General has continuously been suspected of being a conservative presidential candidate and engaging in political activities aimed at the presidency, and even made remarks at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office National Assembly audit that could be interpreted as declaring political participation after retirement.”

Furthermore, she revealed that Prosecutor General Yoon recently obstructed inspection by refusing to respond to a face-to-face investigation by the Ministry of Justice Inspection Office. She added, “As the highest supervisor of prosecutorial affairs, I have judged that it is no longer acceptable for the Prosecutor General to perform his duties as Prosecutor General.”

However, controversy is expected to continue as Prosecutor General Yoon announced plans for legal action immediately after Minister Chu’s announcement. In a statement distributed to the media, Yoon said, “I will legally respond to the unlawful and unfair measures to the end.” He also emphasized, “I have carried out my duties as Prosecutor General without any shame to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution.”