Minister Chu: "Refusal to Cooperate on Inspection Schedule Violates Ministry of Justice Regulations"
Prosecutor General Yoon: "No Shameful Acts So Far... Legal Action Planned"
Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is explaining the reasons for the disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol regarding the inspection results at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] On the 24th, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae announced that she would file disciplinary charges and suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol from duty. This is the first time in constitutional history that a sitting Prosecutor General has been suspended from duty by the Minister of Justice. Concerns are emerging that the ongoing tension between the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which escalated after the Ministry withdrew the face-to-face investigation of Prosecutor General Yoon on the 19th, may lead to a crisis.
At a briefing in the press room of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office at 6 p.m. on the 24th, Minister Choo stated, "The Ministry of Justice conducted a direct inspection into various allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General and confirmed multiple serious and grave allegations of misconduct," and decided to file disciplinary charges and suspend Prosecutor General Yoon from duty.
Minister Choo cited the following allegations of corruption against Prosecutor General Yoon: inappropriate contact with media company owners, illegal surveillance of trial courts handling major cases such as the former Justice Minister Cho Kuk case, violation of cooperation obligations and obstruction of inspection during the face-to-face investigation of the Prosecutor General, and serious damage to the dignity and trust as Prosecutor General regarding political neutrality.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 20th. / Photo by Yonhap News
This is the first time in constitutional history that a sitting Prosecutor General has been suspended from duty by the Minister of Justice. In particular, Prosecutor General Yoon immediately indicated legal action after Minister Choo's briefing, calling it an "illegal and unjust disposition," signaling a head-on confrontation. Some express concerns that the conflict surrounding the Ministry of Justice's face-to-face investigation of Prosecutor General Yoon may ultimately lead to a crisis.
Previously, Minister Choo had instructed the Ministry of Justice to conduct five investigations and fact-finding inquiries, including allegations of concealment and failure to report lobbying involving prosecutors and opposition politicians related to the Lime Asset Management fund fraud case against Prosecutor General Yoon.
Accordingly, on the 16th, the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Office conveyed to Prosecutor General Yoon's secretary that "an investigation into the fact-finding case is necessary, so please inform us of a preferred schedule, and we will visit at any time," but received no response from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
The next day (the 17th), the Ministry of Justice notified the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of a scheduled visit investigation at 2 p.m. on the 19th, and attempted to deliver a visit investigation notice by sending two junior prosecutors, but the Supreme Prosecutors' Office refused to accept it.
The appearance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th, when the Ministry of Justice temporarily canceled the face-to-face investigation plan for Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. / Photo by Yonhap News
Subsequently, on the 18th, the Ministry of Justice again tried to deliver the visit investigation notice to Prosecutor General Yoon by mail, but the Supreme Prosecutors' Office returned it. On the 19th, the Ministry of Justice attempted to conduct a face-to-face inspection of Prosecutor General Yoon, but withdrew the schedule citing non-cooperation from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, continuing the standoff.
Regarding this, Minister Choo emphasized at the briefing on the 24th, "On the 16th, the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Office requested schedule coordination for the visit investigation through the Prosecutor General's secretary, but the secretary refused to respond, failing to cooperate with the necessary matters for conducting the inspection, thereby violating the Ministry of Justice's inspection regulations."
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon has indicated legal action in response to Minister Choo's measures, escalating the conflict to its peak. In a statement distributed to the media that day, Yoon emphasized, "I will legally respond to the illegal and unjust disposition to the end," and added, "I have fulfilled my duties as Prosecutor General without any shame to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution."
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