‘Indictment’ Countdown for Lee Seong-yoon... Now a Situation to Consider His Position

Overwhelming Vote for 'Prosecution Opinion' by Investigation Deliberation Committee the Day Before
From 'Prosecutor's Crown Prince' under Moon Government to First 'Defendant Status Central District Prosecutor General'
Attention on Whether Minister Park Beom-gye Will Take Measures to Suspend Duties

On the morning of the 11th, Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Lee Seong-yoon, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (age 58, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 23), who was known as the "Crown Prince" of the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecution and was the most likely candidate for the next Prosecutor General, is now facing the stigma of being the first-ever "defendant-status chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office."

Although he was not nominated as a candidate for Prosecutor General, Kim Oh-soo, former Vice Minister of Justice (age 58, class 20), who is three classes senior in the Judicial Research and Training Institute, was nominated as a candidate, and Lee was expected to be promoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office or a senior district chief prosecutor in the next personnel reshuffle. However, in the final gamble, the Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee) overwhelmingly concluded by general citizen members that "there is no need for further investigation and prosecution should proceed," putting Lee in a position where he must consider his future.

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which has been investigating allegations of "investigation interference" against Lee, is reportedly planning to indict him without detention on charges of abuse of authority as early as the 11th.

Lee has been under investigation for allegedly exerting external pressure on the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch in 2019, when he was head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to cover up the investigation into the "Kim Hak-ui illegal deportation" case.

At the Investigation Deliberation Committee meeting held the day before, 8 out of 13 committee members participating in the deliberation expressed an opinion to indict Lee. Furthermore, the committee members overwhelmingly rejected Lee's side's claim that "the investigation is insufficient and further investigation is necessary," with 8 members opposing it.

This can be interpreted as meaning that, from the perspective of ordinary citizens, there is sufficient evidence and testimony to prove the charges to the extent that immediate prosecution without additional investigation would not be unreasonable.

In particular, it is known that several written statements submitted separately by the investigation team played a significant role in the committee members' decision the previous day.

Born in Gochang, Jeonbuk, Lee did not particularly stand out within the prosecution until the current administration took office, having served as a prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (2013), head of the Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office (2014), and prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (seconded to the Financial Services Commission, 2015).

However, immediately after the regime change in August 2017, he was promoted to chief prosecutor for the first time and took on the key position of head of the Criminal Affairs Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. He then advanced through the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division, and held prominent positions such as Director of the Prosecutor's Office at the Ministry of Justice and Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, known as the "Big 3" within the prosecution.

The reason he gained such strong trust from the administration is widely believed to be his connection as a junior alumnus of President Moon Jae-in at Kyung Hee University Law School and his experience working alongside Moon, who was then the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, as head of the Special Inspection Team in the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

In particular, during last year's "Channel A incident" and other cases, when former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae had extreme conflicts with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and even filed disciplinary charges, Lee firmly sided with Minister Choo and opposed Yoon. He was criticized as a "shield prosecutor" who obstructed investigations related to the administration, which led to a collective rebellion among junior prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

Even after Minister Choo was dismissed and Minister Park Beom-gye took office, Lee was retained as chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office despite strong opposition from then Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Shin Hyun-soo and former Prosecutor General Yoon, proving he remained a strong candidate for Prosecutor General.

However, Lee became a suspect under investigation by both the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the prosecution after evidence emerged that he tried to cover up the "Kim Hak-ui illegal deportation" incident and blocked the start of the investigation, resulting in him not even making it to the list of four candidates for Prosecutor General.

Especially when media reports surfaced ahead of the Prosecutor General candidate recommendation that prosecution was imminent, Lee played his last card by simultaneously requesting the convening of a Professional Investigation Advisory Panel and the Investigation Deliberation Committee.

Seemingly aware of the seriousness of the situation, Lee even took leave and appeared in person at the Investigation Deliberation Committee, but with even ordinary citizens agreeing that prosecution was inevitable, Lee, who had claimed he was the target of a "selective investigation," now faces a situation where he must consider his position. Given that the charges against Lee involve abuse of authority related to the investigation, there is also a possibility that Minister Park may preemptively suspend Lee from his duties.

Attorney Kim Jong-min (age 55, class 21), former head of the Suncheon Branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, sharply criticized Lee on his Facebook the day before, saying, "Even a level 9 public official would naturally resign or be dismissed if indicted by the court, so the idea of a defendant-status chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is absurd," and added, "If he is retained or maintains his position as chief prosecutor, the prosecution should be shut down."

He further pointed out, "Minister Park Beom-gye must clearly state his position on this incident and clarify the follow-up measures, and nominee Kim Oh-soo must also clearly express his stance on this matter during the confirmation hearing."