"Yoon Seok-yeol Suspension Could Paralyze Moon Government, Economist Warns"

The Economist: "President Moon's Prosecutorial Reform Seems to Have Opposite Effect"
"Choo-Yoon Power Struggle Does Not Help Prosecutorial Reform"

On the morning of October 29, a wreath supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol was placed on the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The latest issue of The Economist featured this photo while explaining the conflict surrounding Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The British media outlet The Economist recently analyzed the ongoing conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, stating that "President Moon Jae-in's prosecution reform seems to be having the 'opposite effect'." The prosecution reform was originally intended to exclude the prosecution from politics, but it has instead resulted in the government clashing with the prosecution and drawing the prosecution into the center of politics.

In an article titled "Prosecution Complex" published in its latest issue on the 28th of last month, The Economist detailed Justice Minister Choo’s decision on the 24th of last month to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon from duty and request disciplinary action. The article also mentioned the rows of wreaths sent by some conservative groups supporting Yoon, lined up densely in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Regarding this so-called "wreath procession," the media described it as "a rather extreme expression of support for Prosecutor General Yoon by Korean conservative groups," explaining that one of the reasons Justice Minister Choo suspended Yoon was the allegation that he had undermined the political neutrality of the prosecution.

Furthermore, it stated, "The Korean prosecution holds all powers including investigation and prosecution rights, but the core of President Moon’s prosecution reform was to limit the prosecution’s right to prosecute," adding, "While most Koreans seem to support the reform, the power struggle between Justice Minister Choo and Prosecutor General Yoon is not helping the prosecution reform."

The Economist predicted that Minister Chu's decision to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon from duty and request disciplinary action might rather hinder the intended prosecution reform. / Photo by Yonhap News

The Economist also predicted that Justice Minister Choo’s suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon and related measures have triggered backlash across the prosecution, raising the possibility that officials in the Moon Jae-in administration could come under investigation as their terms near completion.

Earlier, on the 25th of last month, prosecutors from the 34th class and below at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, along with prosecutors from the Busan Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, issued a statement urging Justice Minister Choo to reconsider the suspension and disciplinary request against Prosecutor General Yoon. On the 26th, meetings of rank-and-file prosecutors were held at more than ten prosecution offices nationwide.

The signs of collective action by prosecutors nationwide mark the first such occurrence in seven years since the 2013 incident involving former Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook, who resigned amid allegations of an extramarital child. At that time, frontline prosecutors staged collective protests, leading to what was called a "prosecution rebellion."

Regarding this, The Economist explained, "If the suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon causes the prosecution to side with him, it will not only frustrate the reform intentions but also has the potential to paralyze the government through relentless prosecutions," adding, "President Moon’s biggest problem may be whether he will share the fate of his predecessors who ended up in prison."

It further forecasted, "As President Moon’s term nears its end, the prosecution, which was once a target of weakened power, may intensify investigations into him."