[Exclusive] Former Judge Lee Sujin: "If Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol's Investigation Fails, the National Assembly Should Impeach"

Lee Su-jin, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Lee Su-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and former judge, asserted that if investigations and punishments regarding Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol are not properly conducted, "the National Assembly must step in and impeach him."

On the 27th, in a phone interview with Asia Economy, Rep. Lee stated, "The prosecution possessing blacklist materials that were used to suppress reformist judges and somehow utilizing them is a major issue," adding, "It seems these were secured during the investigation of judicial corruption, which is why the judicial corruption forces and prosecutorial deep-rooted evils must be reformed on the same level."

She continued, "Since this undermines the fairness of trials, it is unconstitutional, and the person responsible, the Prosecutor General, should be impeached," emphasizing, "Impeachment is the only way for the National Assembly to check the prosecution and judiciary. If the Assembly does not exercise this authority when necessary, it constitutes dereliction of duty."

The National Assembly can impeach the Prosecutor General with a majority vote, and the Constitutional Court makes the final decision. If impeached and removed from office, the individual cannot serve as a public official for five years. This could be interpreted as making Yoon’s future presidential bid difficult.

On the 26th, the Ministry of Justice requested an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office into Prosecutor General Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, stating, "We have confirmed cases suspected of being abused, such as attacks on judges from the Uri Law Research Association who made rulings unfavorable to the prosecution, and we judge this to be a very serious crime."

However, in trials related to judicial corruption, acquittals have been handed down based on the logic that "there is no abuse of authority because there is no official power." Regarding this, Rep. Lee said, "Courts have no choice but to interpret the provisions strictly, but this contradicts common sense," adding, "If investigations are properly conducted and Prosecutor General Yoon is punished, impeachment will not be necessary. But if not, the National Assembly must actively consider impeachment. Impeachment is the last resort."

On the 25th, she also criticized on Facebook, "Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol should be subject to investigation beyond suspension from duty just for the surveillance allegations," calling the corrupt prosecution and judicial corruption forces "a single entity and soul twins."