Yoon, at Last Month's Supreme Prosecutors' Office Audit, Says "Thinking About Ways to Serve the People After Retirement"
Resuming External Schedules, Also Delivers 'Determined Remarks'
"Stand Firm Against Power-Related Corruption," "Must Become the People's Prosecution"
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
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] On the 24th, controversy between the ruling and opposition parties intensified over the charge of "damage to dignity and trust regarding political neutrality" among the allegations for which Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae decided to impose disciplinary action and suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol from duty. Earlier, Prosecutor General Yoon stated at the October National Assembly inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, "I will look for ways to serve the people after retirement," and recently delivered a lecture to newly appointed prosecutors presenting the so-called "Prosecutor of the People" theory.
The ruling party criticized Yoon's actions as politically motivated, arguing that they undermined the political neutrality of a high-ranking public official. On the other hand, the opposition countered that "Minister Choo is the one dragging Prosecutor General Yoon into politics."
The first time Prosecutor General Yoon was criticized by the ruling party for "damage to political neutrality" was at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held on the 22nd of last month. When asked by an opposition lawmaker about his plans after retirement, Yoon replied, "I will slowly think about how to serve the people after retirement," causing subtle ripples in the political sphere. When asked if politics was included as a way of service, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "It is difficult to say at this time."
Recently, as Yoon resumed external schedules, he made so-called "determined remarks," drawing attention from the political world. At the new prosecutors' registration ceremony held on August 3rd at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, Yoon stated, "Liberal democracy is realized through the rule of law," and urged, "Keep in mind that all citizens are stakeholders and potential victims of corruption and power-related crimes, and face them boldly."
In a lecture given on the 3rd at the Jincheon Training Institute in Chungbuk to about 30 newly appointed chief prosecutors, he emphasized, "The prosecutorial system began with the 'Republican Prosecutor' after the French Revolution," and added, "Since the prosecution was born from the spirit of the republic, it must become the 'Prosecutor of the People.' The real prosecutorial reform that the people want is to investigate corruption of the living power fairly without hesitation."
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
The ruling party criticized Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks as politically motivated.
Shin Dong-geun, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said in a radio interview on the 26th of last month, "He (Yoon) has political ambitions. His remarks were at the level of a politician, aiming for politics," and added, "The public will not like someone from the power institutions."
Criticism also arose regarding the "Prosecutor of the People" remarks. Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk wrote on Facebook on the 20th, "There is a hidden meaning and danger in Prosecutor General Yoon's emphasized 'Prosecutor of the People' theory," and criticized, "It means that since the prosecution has been directly empowered by the people, it will be directly responsible only to the people. It gives a feeling of divine right of kings, a theory of people's sovereignty of prosecution." This implies that the prosecution does not need to be controlled by elected powers such as the president or members of the National Assembly.
On the other hand, the opposition argued that "Minister Choo is pushing Prosecutor General Yoon into the political arena."
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's emergency committee meeting on the 12th, "Minister Choo keeps dragging Prosecutor General Yoon, who is focused on prosecutorial duties, into politics," and criticized, "She keeps pushing someone who only wants to do prosecutorial work to quit and go into politics. I earnestly ask her to endure for just one month to see what happens if she leaves Yoon alone."
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. / Photo by Yonhap News
Geum Tae-seop, a former lawmaker who recently left the Democratic Party, wrote on his Facebook on the 24th, calling Minister Choo's suspension order "truly shocking," and pointed out, "The phrase about damaging the dignity and trust as Prosecutor General made me burst out laughing."
He continued, "If this is the case, how is it different from the Lee Myung-bak administration forcing Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook to resign for an irrelevant reason just because they didn't like the comment investigation?"
Meanwhile, Minister Choo stated at a briefing in the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room at 6 p.m. on the 24th, "The Ministry of Justice conducted direct investigations into various allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General and confirmed multiple serious and grave allegations," and announced that she ordered disciplinary action and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon.
However, Prosecutor General Yoon hinted at legal action against Minister Choo's measures, signaling a potential head-on confrontation. In a statement distributed to the media about eight minutes after Minister Choo's briefing, Yoon emphasized, "I will legally respond to the illegal and unfair measures 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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