[Full Text] 34 Former Chief Prosecutors "Minister Chu Mi-ae Undermines Rule of Law"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Even former chief prosecutors have joined the prosecution’s collective action opposing the suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol’s duties.

On the 27th, 34 former chief prosecutors, including former Incheon District Chief Prosecutor Gong Sang-hoon, issued a statement saying, "The Ministry of Justice Minister’s decision to suspend the Prosecutor General’s duties infringes on the independence of the prosecution and undermines the rule of law, and must be reconsidered."

They pointed out, "The decision to suspend the Prosecutor General’s duties without sufficiently verifying the facts and in violation of relevant legal provisions is a disregard of the principles of reasonableness and proportionality, and is an illegal and unjust measure that ignores the neutrality and independence of the prosecution."

The former chief prosecutors added, "We hope that the ongoing prosecution reform will proceed in a direction that solidifies the prosecution’s political neutrality and enables the prosecution to properly fulfill its role as a human rights protection agency."

Below is the full text of the statement

Opinion on the Suspension of the Prosecutor General’s Duties

- The Ministry of Justice Minister’s decision to suspend the Prosecutor General’s duties infringes on the independence of the prosecution and undermines the rule of law, and is illegal and unjust, thus must be reconsidered -

The Ministry of Justice Minister’s decision to suspend the Prosecutor General’s duties without sufficiently verifying the facts and in violation of relevant legal provisions is a disregard of the principles of reasonableness and proportionality, and cannot be regarded as anything other than an illegal and unjust measure that ignores the neutrality and independence of the prosecution.

Along with the recent excessive exercise of the Ministry of Justice Minister’s investigative directive power, which should be exercised with caution, such unprecedented illegal and unjust measures are being carried out under the name of prosecution reform, which is deeply concerning.

As former prosecution officials once responsible for prosecution duties, we humbly accept the criticism that the prosecution in the past failed to maintain political neutrality and did not fulfill its mission as a human rights protection agency, and we hope that the ongoing prosecution reform will proceed in a direction that solidifies the prosecution’s political neutrality and enables the prosecution to properly fulfill its role as a human rights protection agency.

We urge reconsideration of the prosecution reform in the right direction that truly benefits the nation and the people, and the Ministry of Justice Minister’s illegal and unjust decision.