Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee Holds Meeting Day Before Yoon Disciplinary Committee... Could It Be a Variable?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Ministry of Justice's Inspection Committee on Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol will be held on the 1st. The meeting is scheduled a day before the Disciplinary Committee for prosecutors on the 2nd. Although Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is not obligated to follow the Inspection Committee's recommendations, the results are expected to attract attention as they could influence public opinion and other factors.

According to the legal community on the 28th, the Ministry of Justice will hold the Inspection Committee on the 1st of next month to discuss whether there were any issues with the inspection methods and procedures regarding Prosecutor General Yoon.

Previously, Minister Choo planned to proceed directly to the disciplinary committee stage without consulting the Inspection Committee on the inspection results of Prosecutor General Yoon. However, the Ministry of Justice reportedly postponed the meeting to next month due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. In response, external members of the Inspection Committee submitted a fax request to the Ministry of Justice to convene the committee before the disciplinary committee, after Minister Choo announced the opening of the disciplinary committee for Prosecutor General Yoon.

The Inspection Committee is an advisory body established to ensure transparency in the Ministry of Justice's inspection affairs. According to regulations, the Inspection Committee can provide opinions or recommend necessary measures regarding the investigation methods, results, and actions of the Ministry of Justice's inspections. Unlike the Disciplinary Committee, more than two-thirds of its members are external personnel, making it relatively free from internal influence.

The fact that the Inspection Committee's meeting results are advisory and not binding is a variable. However, if the Inspection Committee recommends that the disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon is unjust, it could pose a considerable burden on the Ministry of Justice to proceed with the discipline.

Some interpret this as the Ministry of Justice having revised related regulations in advance, considering this. The Ministry of Justice's directive previously stipulated that 'consultation with the Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee is required for important inspections,' but after revision, it became optional rather than mandatory.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon has appointed lawyers Lee Seok-woong (Law Firm Seowoo) and Lee Wankyu (Law Firm Dongin), who are handling his administrative litigation defense, for the disciplinary committee meeting on the 2nd. The lawyers stated, "We have applied for access to the disciplinary review records and are awaiting a response from the Ministry of Justice." They added, "Access to the records is procedurally necessary for sufficient explanation and exercise of the right to defense." Regarding whether Prosecutor General Yoon will attend the disciplinary review on the day, they said, "It has not been decided yet."