"President Moon, State Your Position" Did Chu Hide Behind... Political Fallout of 'Yoon Discipline' Case

Autumn, Yoon's Job Suspension... Cheongwadae Silent, Ruling Party Defends
"President Effectively Approved It," "Pro-Moon 586 Faction Criticized for Destroying Democracy"

President Moon Jae-in and Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kang Joo-hee] The political landscape is shaking as Justice Minister Chu Mi-ae issued a disciplinary request and a work suspension order against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl on the 24th. The opposition party launched a full-scale offensive, demanding clarification on whether Minister Chu's announcement reflected President Moon Jae-in's intentions. The ruling party, meanwhile, practically urged Prosecutor General Yoon to resign voluntarily, defending Minister Chu and launching a fierce counterattack.

This is an unprecedented event in constitutional history where the Minister of Justice has suspended the duties of a sitting Prosecutor General. It is interpreted that Minister Chu, who has been pressuring Prosecutor General Yoon by stripping his personnel authority, inspection rights, and investigative command, has effectively played her last card.

In this regard, the Blue House emphasized that President Moon did not express any particular stance. As a result, criticism is mounting that the government and ruling party are hiding behind Minister Chu to drive out Prosecutor General Yoon, who is trying to investigate corruption within the power structure.

Minister Chu held an emergency briefing at 6 p.m. at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room, stating, "With a very heavy heart, I report to the public the disciplinary request and work suspension measures against the Prosecutor General," and added, "As a result of directly conducting an inspection into various allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General, we confirmed multiple serious and grave allegations."

The reasons Minister Chu cited for Prosecutor General Yoon's work suspension include six major points: ▲inappropriate contact with media company owners ▲illegal surveillance of trial courts in major cases such as the former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's case ▲obstruction of inspection related to the Channel A case and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's case ▲leakage of information related to the Channel A case inspection to external parties ▲damage to dignity and trust concerning political neutrality ▲violation of cooperation obligations and obstruction of inspection during face-to-face investigations.

On the afternoon of the 24th, Choo Mi-ae, Minister of Justice, explained the reasons for the disciplinary request and suspension of duties related to the inspection results of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol at the press room of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

It is reported that President Moon received a briefing on the disciplinary request and work suspension against Prosecutor General Yoon before Minister Chu's announcement but made no separate remarks on the matter.

Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok sent a text message to reporters at the Chuncheon Press Center in the afternoon, stating, "President Moon Jae-in received a briefing just before the Minister of Justice's announcement and made no separate comments." This is being interpreted, especially by the opposition, as tacit approval of Minister Chu's actions.

The ruling party supports Minister Chu's decision and is increasing pressure on Prosecutor General Yoon's position. Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, immediately posted on his Facebook after Minister Chu's announcement, saying, "It is difficult to suppress shock and disappointment at the allegations against Prosecutor General Yoon announced by the Ministry of Justice. We recommend that Prosecutor General Yoon decide on his position as a public official," calling for his voluntary resignation.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th, Leader Lee also said, "The allegations against Prosecutor General Yoon revealed by the Ministry of Justice are shocking," and urged again, "Prosecutor General Yoon should decide on his position for the future of the prosecution."

Floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon warned, "The Ministry of Justice's inspection results appear very serious. We will strictly observe the disciplinary committee's decision regarding the Prosecutor General."

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is responding to a lawmaker's question at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held on the 22nd of last month in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The opposition party immediately reacted strongly, demanding that the President clarify his position on the situation. Some interpret that President Moon, who had remained silent despite escalating conflicts between Minister Chu and Prosecutor General Yoon, is effectively using Minister Chu to oust Prosecutor General Yoon.

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, issued a statement on the 24th saying, "The public is appalled by this lawlessness within the government," and urged, "Please clearly state whether it is truly the President's intention for the Minister of Justice to block the Prosecutor General's investigation into power abuse and corruption through abuse of authority, overreach, and lawlessness."

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the same party, criticized on Facebook on the 25th, saying, "The President's silence is effectively helping Minister Chu's misdeeds and trying to drive out Prosecutor General Yoon together," implying that Minister Chu's actions reflect the President's will.

Kim Geun-sik, chairman of the People Power Party's Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee, also expressed concern, saying, "The fact that the President was briefed in advance and said nothing means tacit approval beyond mere acquiescence," and warned, "'Work suspension' has turned the Chu-Yoon confrontation into a historic battle between dictatorship and anti-dictatorship."

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a greeting at the special aide appointment ceremony held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

Criticism of the ruling party's defense of Minister Chu continues, with accusations of 'opportunism' and 'totalitarianism.'

Chairman Kim directed his criticism at Leader Lee Nak-yeon, saying, "It is hard to suppress shock and disappointment at Leader Lee's swift opportunism," and asked, "Is he ultimately trapped by the 'Ddaekae-moon' (a derogatory term for blind supporters of President Moon Jae-in)? Or is he riding on the 'Ddaekae-moon'? Has he decided to win favor with the pro-Moon faction to become a presidential candidate and president?" He continued, "Leader Lee, who quickly supports Minister Chu's 'Justice dictatorship,' will soon regret it before history," warning.

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon wrote on Facebook, "I expected they would do everything to drive out the Prosecutor General, but the method is beyond imagination," and interpreted, "President Moon is just a figurehead, and the mainstream 586 generation (people in their 50s, who were university students in the 1980s and born in the 1960s) under him has decided to recklessly push forward by putting forward the somewhat lacking Chu Mi-ae."

In another post, former professor Jin criticized, "Minister Chu cannot act alone. The Blue House must have tacitly approved it. Not only the armed lawmakers but also Leader Lee Nak-yeon is fanning the flames from the side. The totalitarian tendencies of the pro-Moon 586 faction are infringing on the liberal democracy that our society has painstakingly built since 1987."

The lights are on at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon expressed his intention to respond legally to Minister Chu's measures. Immediately after Minister Chu's briefing, Prosecutor General Yoon issued a statement saying, "I have fulfilled my duties as Prosecutor General without a single blemish to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution," and added, "I will legally respond to the illegal and unfair measures until the end."

From the moment Minister Chu issued the disciplinary request and work suspension order, the measures took effect, and Prosecutor General Yoon was completely excluded from normal duties on the 25th, reportedly not coming to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office that day.

In legal circles, it is expected that Prosecutor General Yoon may file an injunction lawsuit to prohibit the work suspension administrative measure, arguing that Minister Chu's suspension is unjust. If the court accepts this, the work suspension order against Prosecutor General Yoon will be lifted, and he will be able to resume his duties as Prosecutor General.