Yoon Seok-yeol Appeals After Losing First Trial in Disciplinary Cancellation Lawsuit

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol has appealed the first-instance ruling that dismissed his lawsuit seeking cancellation of disciplinary action.

According to the legal community on the 15th, Yoon's legal representative, Attorney Son Kyung-sik, submitted a notice of appeal to the Administrative Division 12 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Yong-seok).

The day before, the court ruled against Yoon in the lawsuit he filed against the Minister of Justice seeking cancellation of the disciplinary action.

The court acknowledged two of the reasons cited by the Ministry of Justice for the two-month suspension disciplinary action against Yoon: ▲ordering the preparation of a court analysis document ▲obstruction of inspection and investigation related to the Channel A case. The court did not accept the reason concerning damage to the dignity related to political neutrality. Regarding the court analysis document, the court found that it contained a large amount of information collected in violation of the Personal Information Protection Act.

Immediately after the ruling was announced the previous day, Yoon's legal representatives stated, "We plan to thoroughly review the judgment and actively challenge the court's factual errors and legal misunderstandings in the appellate court."

In particular, Yoon's side opposed the court's judgment, noting that it differed from the decision to grant a suspension of execution for the disciplinary action in December last year.

Although the decision to grant the suspension of execution was made by the same court as the current main case, the composition of the court members changed due to the regular court personnel reshuffle in February this year.