Despite Minister Chu's Efforts... 'Geomran' Expected to Spread

Prosecutors on the Frontline: "Contrary to the Principle of Due Process and Rule of Law"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The wave of opposition among frontline prosecutors is spreading in response to Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. Eventually, even the rank-and-file prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon who stands in opposition to Yoon, have joined in. Although Minister Choo attempted to calm the situation by stating, "I understand the shock and bewilderment the prosecution organization must have felt," the prosecutors' backlash is expected to intensify as she also expressed her determination to push forward with the disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon.

According to the legal community on the 27th, all rank-and-file prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office posted a statement on the internal communication network the previous night, saying, "The Minister of Justice's actions undermine the purpose of the fixed term of the Prosecutor General guaranteed by law and the political neutrality of the prosecution." They criticized, "It seriously violates the constitutional principles of due process and the rule of law," and added, "It is illegal and unjust as it lacks legitimacy in both purpose and procedure."

This movement among prosecutors within the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is expected to have a considerable impact on prosecution offices nationwide. The deputy chief prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office also criticized the day before, stating, "The Minister of Justice's disciplinary request and suspension of the Prosecutor General were made without sufficient fact-finding, violating procedural justice and going against the spirit of prosecution reform."

In fact, collective statements from rank-and-file prosecutors continue to follow. Rank-and-file prosecutors from Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, Cheonan Branch, Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office, Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, Goyang Branch, Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, and Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office have consecutively issued collective statements. The leadership's movements are also notable. Following the joint statement by six frontline high prosecutors including Seoul High Prosecutor Cho Sang-chul, 17 out of 20 chief prosecutors expressed their opinions. In total, 23 out of 26 frontline prosecution leaders, encompassing high prosecutors and district prosecutors, have issued statements. However, Chief Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon, Kim Gwan-jeong of Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, and Lee Jeong-su of Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, who are classified as part of Minister Choo's faction, did not participate.

In response, Minister Choo issued a statement through the Ministry of Justice notification, but it appears insufficient to quell the prosecutors' backlash. Minister Choo tried to soothe by saying, "I believe this is based on the sense of loss due to the sudden vacancy at the head of the prosecution organization and the affection for the prosecution," but her remarks are interpreted as laying the groundwork for the disciplinary justification against Prosecutor General Yoon. In fact, Minister Choo explained the necessity of convening the disciplinary committee by stating, "After thorough investigation and inspection of various allegations of misconduct, specific testimonies and extensive evidence were collected to the extent that disciplinary action was warranted." She further criticized the prosecution, saying, "While prosecutors discuss and express opinions on this measure, I was shocked beyond bewilderment by the huge gap in perception when there was no mention of the illegal surveillance documents on judges and an attitude that seemed to take it for granted."