[Summary] "Will Wait for Disciplinary Committee" vs "Dismiss Choo Immediately" Conflicting Reactions from Ruling and Opposition Parties on Yoon's Return

Prosecutor General Yoon Returns to Work 7 Days After Suspension Order
"Temporary Measure Only," "No Impact on Disciplinary Committee," Ruling Party Cautious
"Actively Welcome," "Minister Chu Resign," Opposition's Full-Scale Offensive

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who was unable to go to work due to the decision to exclude him from duty by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 1st. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who had been excluded from his duties by order of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, returned to work after seven days, sparking mixed reactions from both ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Party of Korea took a cautious stance, stating they would "wait for the decision of the Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee," while the People Power Party voiced growing demands for Minister Choo's resignation and an apology from President Moon Jae-in.

Shin Young-dae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a statement on the afternoon of the 1st, "The court's decision did not judge whether the disciplinary reasons against Prosecutor General Yoon were appropriate."

He added, "We will wait for the Ministry of Justice's disciplinary committee's judgment." This was interpreted as a cautious approach, indicating they would observe the results of the Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee meeting scheduled for the 4th regarding Prosecutor General Yoon.

Within the ruling party, there were claims that the recent court decision would have little impact on the disciplinary committee. Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae wrote on his Facebook on the same day, "Since exclusion from duty is a temporary measure before the disciplinary committee's decision, the suspension of its effect is a disciplinary reprieve," emphasizing, "It is not a pardon."

Fellow party member Kim Nam-guk said in an interview on KBS Radio's 'Joo Jin-woo Live' that afternoon, "Although the court's judgment has some regrettable points, it appears to be a formal and objective decision," but also predicted, "This itself will not affect the disciplinary reasons or various decisions made by the disciplinary committee."

Kim Nam-guk, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, the opposition party urged that "President Moon should dismiss Minister Choo and apologize for this incident."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a National Assembly press conference that afternoon, "I think this is a very natural decision based on law and conscience, and I actively welcome it," emphasizing, "The regime tried to suppress the Prosecutor General, a symbol of public authority, through lawless and brutal means, but living consciences protected him."

He continued, "President Moon should immediately dismiss Minister Choo, who unlawfully forced the process," and argued, "President Moon and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who stood by until the situation reached this point, must offer a proper apology."

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the same party, wrote on Facebook that day, "By now, it should be sufficiently proven how absurd Minister Choo's reckless actions were," and said, "Minister Choo, who caused unprecedented chaos in South Korea by suspending the Prosecutor General from duty, must take responsibility for her uncontrollable madness and resign immediately."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 1st to express his position on the Seoul Administrative Court's decision to temporarily suspend the effectiveness of the order to exclude Yoon Seok-yeol from duty. / Photo by Yonhap News

People Power Party lawmaker Chung Jin-seok also wrote on Facebook, "The authority to dismiss Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol lies with the president," and criticized, "Minister Choo fabricated absurd misconduct allegations and danced the knife to create an 'easy stepping stone' for the president to dismiss him."

He urged, "President Moon, please face the anger and cries that are happening now."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Seoul Administrative Court Administrative Division 4 (Presiding Judge Jo Mi-yeon) partially accepted Prosecutor General Yoon's request for suspension of execution, which he filed in protest against Minister Choo's order excluding him from duty.

Accordingly, Prosecutor General Yoon, who had been excluded from his duties by Minister Choo's order on the 24th of last month, temporarily returned to his position on the 1st. According to the court's decision, the order excluding Prosecutor General Yoon from duty issued by Minister Choo is suspended in effect until 30 days after the verdict in Prosecutor General Yoon's own case is announced.