[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who denies the 'judiciary surveillance allegations,' has disclosed related documents. Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae immediately ordered a 'request for investigation.' The confrontation between the two sides seems to be continuing.
On the 26th, lawyer Lee Wankyu, representing Prosecutor General Yoon, disclosed the Supreme Prosecutors' Office documents related to the 'judiciary surveillance allegations' raised by Minister Choo when suspending Yoon's duties. Lawyer Lee explained the reason for disclosure, saying, "I was concerned that these documents might make the prosecution appear as an immoral group surveilling the court."
The disclosed document is a report titled 'Analysis of Major Special and Public Security Case Trial Panels.' It records judges' alma maters including high school and university, major rulings, public reputation, and notable points. It also includes sentencing results by case and brief case summaries.
In the public reputation section, without a formal format, comments such as "Member of Uri Law Research Association or evaluated as rational" and "Included in the 2016 list of judges causing controversy by the Administrative Office" were noted. For one presiding judge, the public reputation section states, "There is a reporter's tip that at a meeting chaired by the Chief Judge of the Central Court, he said that those involved in the abuse of judicial administrative power should be severely punished. No other supporting evidence was presented afterward."
Lawyer Lee explained, "Just because there is personal information does not mean all work materials should be considered surveillance. The word 'surveillance' is being used too unfairly," adding, "The term 'surveillance' creates a framing effect."
However, Minister Choo requested an immediate investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights against Prosecutor General Yoon just two hours after Yoon's side disclosed the internal documents. Minister Choo pointed out that the internal documents of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office constitute 'criminal surveillance' and are 'the result of serious illegality.'
Meanwhile, under the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act, Minister Choo scheduled a disciplinary review committee meeting for Yoon on the 2nd of next month and notified Yoon and his lawyers to appear. This is eight days after the disciplinary request and suspension order against Yoon on the 24th. Yoon has not yet decided whether to attend the disciplinary committee. Lawyers Lee Wankyu and Lee Seok-woong, representing Yoon in the lawsuit, will attend the disciplinary committee as special attorneys.
Prosecutor General Yoon also filed an administrative lawsuit, claiming that the suspension order is unjust. On the same day, Yoon filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court against Minister Choo, requesting the cancellation of the suspension order. In the complaint, Yoon stated, "The suspension order corresponds to a severe disciplinary action equivalent to dismissal, and it is a case where the continuity of duty execution is significantly inappropriate."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
