Yoon's Determined Stand... "Now That It's Come to This, I Will Do My Best"

Daily Strategy Meetings with Lawyers for Court Battles... Carefully Managing Every Issue and Preparing for a Long-Term Fight

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] "Given the situation, I will do my best."

Yoon Seok-yeol, Prosecutor General, has shown this resolute determination as he prepares for the upcoming legal battle with the Ministry of Justice, his lawyers reported on the 27th. Since the suspension order on the 24th, Yoon has not been going to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Instead, he meets with his lawyers every morning at a location in Seoul to hold strategy meetings. Yoon is also considering attending the disciplinary committee scheduled for the 2nd of next month in person to explain the unfairness of the suspension.

Yoon reportedly told his lawyers, "Since the situation has come to this, I will put all my strength into it," and added, "I will do my best. Let's do well." His lawyers said, "(Yoon) is effectively giving his opinions on every process and is personally overseeing even minor matters."

Yoon devoted considerable effort from the drafting of the complaint filed with the Seoul Administrative Court. He reviewed the drafted complaint carefully, exchanging feedback with his lawyers while confirming the facts. Accordingly, Yoon is expected to actively present counterarguments at both the disciplinary committee and the forthcoming main lawsuit. Since the main lawsuit seeking cancellation of the suspension order is expected to take several months just for the hearing, it is known that his legal team is preparing for a long-term battle.

The variable is the timing of the decision on Yoon's suspension application. Considering that it usually takes about one to two weeks from the hearing date to the court's decision, the result may come after the disciplinary committee date set by Minister Choo. In the legal community, Minister Choo's scheduling of the disciplinary committee on the 2nd, before the suspension decision is made, is interpreted as an intention to expedite the procedure of recommending dismissal to the President. If the President approves and Yoon is finally dismissed, even if the suspension application is accepted, he will not be able to perform the duties of Prosecutor General for the time being, according to legal experts. Of course, Yoon can also file an appeal lawsuit and suspension application against the dismissal decision.

On the other hand, if the suspension application is accepted before the 2nd, Yoon can perform the duties of Prosecutor General until the main lawsuit's result is announced. Considering that the final result of the main lawsuit takes more than half a year, it is not difficult for Yoon to complete his term.

Meanwhile, the collective action of frontline prosecutors, which is escalating into the worst 'geomran (prosecutorial chaos),' continued on the 27th. The backlash that started among rank-and-file prosecutors has spread to senior prosecutors. A nationwide meeting of rank-and-file prosecutors is the first in seven years since 2013.

Meanwhile, Minister Choo stated on the same day, "I fully understand the shock and bewilderment the prosecution organization must have felt," but also said, "I will proceed with the disciplinary process according to law and procedure, taking various opinions into full consideration." He reiterated that while he understands the background of the prosecutorial chaos, the disciplinary action was an inevitable measure due to the seriousness of Yoon's alleged misconduct.

Minister Choo particularly focused on the controversy over the prosecution's surveillance of the judiciary, stating, "Separate from disciplinary and investigative actions, social discussions including the courts are absolutely necessary," and emphasized, "The prosecution organization has an obligation to conduct sincere discussions without concealment and report to the public on whether such incidents have been customary, whether similar documents have been created, managed, and shared, or whether they were exceptionally created for specific purposes at certain times."