Countdown to 'Indictment' for Lee Seong-yoon's Position... Park Beom-gye "Haven't Thought About It Specifically Yet"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye / Photo by Jin-hyeong Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, stated that he has not yet considered the position of Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (58, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 23).

On the morning of the 11th, after finishing the Cabinet meeting and returning to the Ministry of Justice Gwacheon Office, Minister Park met with reporters and, when asked about Chief Prosecutor Lee's position, said, "I have not particularly thought about it yet."

The previous afternoon, the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee) recommended suspending the investigation and referring the case to trial regarding Chief Prosecutor Lee, who had been under prosecution investigation for the illegal travel ban incident involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.

Regarding this decision by the Investigation Deliberation Committee, Minister Park said on the same day, "I have not yet received an official report from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office," and added, "I have nothing to say."

He also said about the prosecution's internal calls for Chief Prosecutor Lee to resign voluntarily, "I have not directly heard such opinions."

Regarding the impact of Chief Prosecutor Lee's indictment on future prosecution personnel appointments, he said, "We are currently preparing personnel appointments starting from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at the prosecutor level (chief prosecutor)," and refrained from commenting, saying, "It does not seem appropriate to mention it yet."

Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor Lee took a half-day leave the previous afternoon and attended the Investigation Deliberation Committee in person but failed to persuade the committee members. Moreover, with the Investigation Deliberation Committee's recommendation that prosecution is necessary, there is an analysis that it may become difficult for Chief Prosecutor Lee to remain as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office or to be promoted to High Prosecutor in the upcoming prosecution personnel appointments.