"Refused Suspension, Now the Ultimate Political Prosecutor"... Ruling Party's Fierce Criticism of Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation

"Yoon's Resignation Is Evidence That Further Prosecution Reform Is Needed"

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 Kang Juhee] As Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol abruptly resigned on the 4th, the Democratic Party of Korea fiercely criticized him, calling Yoon the "ultimate political prosecutor."

Spokesperson Heo Young said at a National Assembly briefing regarding Yoon's resignation, "What he gained was the stigma of a political prosecutor, and what he lost was the value of the prosecution trusted by the people," adding, "Yoon's inaugural speech, in which he vowed to be the main agent of reform within the prosecution and to carry out relentless reforms until the prosecution became an institution trusted by the people, has been proven false."

Heo criticized, "Yoon, who claimed 'I do not serve a person,' has only been loyal to the power institution called the 'prosecution,' disguising it as fairness and justice. The prosecution's 'selective justice' and 'selective investigation' were investigations into 'living powers,' and the prosecution's 'covering for their own' was disguised as 'killing Yoon Seok-yeol,' demonstrating the capabilities of a political prosecutor." He added, "Now, how the politician Yoon Seok-yeol will be evaluated is entirely his own responsibility."

Chief Spokesperson Choi In-ho also wrote on Facebook that day, "Resigning from the Prosecutor General position citing issues under discussion in the National Assembly is an extremely irresponsible act," and pointed out, "It is suspicious whether he was loyal to the prosecution organization or used it for his political moves."

He continued, "Yoon Seok-yeol's irresponsible resignation has further damaged the status of the prosecution," emphasizing, "This only strengthens the grounds for the necessity of prosecution reform."

Supreme Council Member Noh Woong-rae wrote on Facebook, "He refused suspension of duty and even went to court, but resigning about four months before the end of his term is the result of thorough political calculation," and claimed, "It raises suspicion of a 'planned resignation by the opposition party' aiming to focus attention by playing the victim and steer the by-election in a favorable direction."

He added, "He obstructed prosecution reform solely for the prosecution's benefit until the end and even planned his resignation as a political show, remaining the 'ultimate political prosecutor,'" criticizing, "He will be recorded in history as the worst Prosecutor General."

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon, who had long been in conflict with the government and ruling party over prosecution reform, announced around 2 p.m. that day in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building, "My role in the prosecution ends here," and said, "I intend to resign from the Prosecutor General position today."

He stated, "The constitutional spirit and rule of law system that have sustained this country are being destroyed. The damage will directly fall on the people. I can no longer watch the common sense and justice that our society has built over many years collapse."

He added, "However, as I have done so far, I will continue to devote all my efforts to protecting liberal democracy and the people, no matter what position I hold in the future."