Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol Abruptly Resigns "Will Devote Efforts to Protect Liberal Democracy and the People" (Update)

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is expressing his intention to resign from the position of Prosecutor General as he arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol abruptly resigned on the 4th.

This came just two days after he expressed opposition to the ruling party's legislative push to establish the Serious Crime Investigation Office (Jungsucheong) in a media interview. In his resignation statement, Yoon sharply criticized the government and ruling party, saying, “The constitutional spirit and the rule of law system are being destroyed, and justice and common sense are collapsing.”

Although he is leaving the prosecution today, he left the door open for political involvement, stating, “I will do my best to protect liberal democracy and the people, no matter what position I hold.”

At 2 p.m. that day, Yoon announced in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office entrance in Seocho-dong, Seoul, “I intend to resign as Prosecutor General today,” indicating he would step down before his term ends.

He pointed out, “The constitutional spirit and rule of law system that have sustained this country are being destroyed,” adding, “The damage will fall squarely on the people.”

He continued, “I can no longer stand by as the justice and common sense that this society has painstakingly built crumble.”

Yoon said, “My work at the prosecution ends here,” but added, “As I have done so far, I will continue to do my best to protect liberal democracy and the people, regardless of my position.”

Finally, he thanked those who supported and criticized him sharply, then entered the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building without answering reporters' questions.

It is widely believed that Yoon had already decided to resign when he responded to the media interview earlier this week.

His heightened criticism during a visit to Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office the day before, calling the complete removal of prosecution's investigative authority (Geomsu Wanbak) “a complete triumph of corruption,” is also seen as a move considering his resignation.

However, the timing of the resignation announcement being earlier than expected appears to have been influenced by the recent sensitive reactions from the Blue House and ruling party.

Having constantly clashed with the government and ruling party since the investigation into former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, Yoon maintained his position even when then-Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae filed disciplinary action and ordered his suspension last year, successfully obtaining a court injunction.

But with the adjustment of investigative authority between police and prosecution and the establishment of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gongsucheo) now completed, he came to believe that the ruling party's attempt to abolish the prosecution office entirely and create a new investigative body was because he was still Prosecutor General, leading him to seriously consider resigning before his term ended.

The ruling party had already proposed the “Public Prosecution Office Act” and the “Abolition of the Prosecutors' Office Act” at the end of last year before the controversial Serious Crime Investigation Office establishment bill. If these bills pass, the prosecutors' office and investigating prosecutors will disappear entirely. Yoon likely judged that resignation was the only option as he could become known as the “last Prosecutor General” in history.

Yoon's appeal to public interest through media interviews, unable to find an appropriate countermeasure to block the bills' passage, was interpreted by the ruling party as a “political move considering a presidential run,” which also accelerated his resignation announcement.

Furthermore, after the Blue House warned to “respect the National Assembly's opinions and calmly express views according to procedures,” and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the day before, “If you want to express your convictions, resign your post and do so confidently,” even mentioning his dismissal recommendation, Yoon appears to have solidified his decision to announce an early resignation.

It remains uncertain whether Yoon's resignation will be a significant variable in the ruling party's discussion on establishing the Serious Crime Investigation Office.

There is indeed a cautious view within the ruling party that speed adjustment is necessary since the investigative authority adjustment between police and prosecution began this year and the Gongsucheo has just been launched. However, hardliners pushing the Serious Crime Investigation Office bill and others have a strong atmosphere that the prosecution's opinions need not be heard from the start, so despite Yoon's resignation, there is a considerable possibility they will push for the bill's passage in the first half of the year.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office collected opinions from frontline prosecution offices regarding the Serious Crime Investigation Office establishment, but with Yoon's resignation and the loss of a central figure, it is expected to be difficult to raise meaningful voices.

However, since the bills currently being pushed by the ruling party aim to abolish the prosecution organization itself and completely eliminate prosecutors' investigative authority, if the ruling party pushes the bills despite the Prosecutor General's resignation, collective backlash from prosecutors cannot be ruled out.

A senior prosecution official A said, “Almost 100% of frontline prosecutors agree with the Prosecutor General's opinion,” adding, “The Serious Crime Investigation Office bill was not originally the ruling party's official stance but the claim of some lawmakers, and I believe there is a clear aspect that this situation has come to this point because they dislike Yoon.”

Until a successor Prosecutor General is appointed, Deputy Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan will lead the prosecution as acting Prosecutor General, but with Yoon's resignation, investigations into power-related cases such as the “Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant economic feasibility evaluation manipulation,” the “Kim Hak-eui illegal deportation” case, and the “Ulsan mayoral election interference” case are likely to lose momentum.

Yoon, who became a civilian earlier than expected, expressed his willingness to play a role outside the prosecution to protect democracy and the people, making his next moves a major variable in the political arena ahead of by-elections and the presidential election.