Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation Marks Turning Point in Investigations of Living Power... Concerns Over Weakening Momentum

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 Seongpil Cho] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's sudden resignation announcement on the 4th marked a major turning point for investigations targeting the current administration, including the alleged economic manipulation case at the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant. Yoon had served as a bulwark against the administration's pressure to halt or scale down investigations into key powers. In last month's personnel reshuffle involving prosecutors at the senior prosecutor level, he requested Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye to retain all heads of investigative teams. This was in line with his consistent stance since taking office to strongly respond to power corruption. However, with Yoon stepping down, concerns are rising that investigations targeting the administration will effectively come to a halt.

First, the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant economic manipulation case, handled by the Criminal Division 5 of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyun), is likely to be suspended. This investigation began after an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, requested by the National Assembly, revealed that the government and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power violated legally prescribed procedures when deciding to suspend operations of Wolseong Unit 1. Despite being suspended and receiving a two-month disciplinary suspension following former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae's disciplinary request at the end of last year, Yoon had continued to oversee this case upon his return. Under Yoon's protection, the investigative team had been reviewing the reissuance of an arrest warrant for former Minister of Industry and Energy Baek Woon-kyu, a key figure suspected of involvement at higher levels, but Yoon's resignation is expected to bring this to an abrupt halt. The ruling party has openly warned the investigation, accusing the prosecution of conducting political investigations.

The investigation into allegations of election interference in the Ulsan mayoral race, handled by the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Sang-dae), is also unlikely to make progress. The investigative team indicted 13 people, including Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho, in January last year on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act, but investigations targeting higher-ups such as former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok have stalled since the appointment of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Chief Lee Sung-yoon. With Yoon's resignation, there is speculation inside and outside the prosecution that the investigation will be closed without further indictments. Additionally, investigations into cases involving ruling party figures, such as the 'Assault on Taxi Driver by Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu' handled by the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Dong-eon), and the 'Optimus Asset Management Scandal' handled by the Economic Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Joo Min-cheol), are expected to lose momentum sharply.

In the legal community, it is believed that the future momentum of these investigations will depend on who is appointed as the next Prosecutor General. However, the consensus is that it is unlikely that someone as confrontational toward the current administration as Yoon will take office. A lawyer in Seocho-dong said, "The investigations targeting the current administration depend on who the next Prosecutor General is," adding, "If a pro-government prosecutor like Chief Prosecutor Lee, who is considered a leading candidate for the next Prosecutor General, takes the position, the investigations are likely to be halted or scaled down."