Daegeom Files Disciplinary Request Against Former Seoul High Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon... Allegations of 'Pressure on Kim Hak-ui Illegal Detention Investigation'

Policy to Decide Final Disciplinary Level After Review by Disciplinary Committee

Former Seoul High Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon, who was indicted on charges of exerting external pressure in the investigation of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui's illegal travel ban case, appears at a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Disciplinary action has been requested against Lee Seong-yoon, former Seoul High Prosecutor's Office Chief Prosecutor, who is currently on trial for allegedly exerting external pressure in the investigation of former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui's illegal travel ban.

According to the legal community on the 14th, Lee Won-seok, Deputy Prosecutor General acting as Prosecutor General, filed a disciplinary request against the former Chief Prosecutor with the Ministry of Justice on the same day.

The Ministry of Justice plans to hold an inspection committee meeting to gather opinions on the level of discipline in response to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's request, and then decide the final disciplinary level through a disciplinary committee review.

Earlier, the Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee held a meeting on the 7th to discuss the necessity of filing disciplinary charges against the former Chief Prosecutor, whose three-year disciplinary statute of limitations expires this month.

The committee members concluded in the meeting that filing disciplinary charges against the former Chief Prosecutor was necessary and reportedly conveyed this opinion to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Originally, this matter was under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee, but due to personnel changes last month, the former Chief Prosecutor was transferred to the Ministry of Justice as a research fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, thus the case was transferred to the Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee.

However, since the former Chief Prosecutor is currently on trial for the related allegations, it is expected that more time will be required before the disciplinary process proceeds. According to the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act, if a public prosecution is filed related to the disciplinary cause, the disciplinary review is suspended until the case is concluded.

The former Chief Prosecutor is accused of abusing authority by exerting pressure on the Anyang branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in June 2019, while serving as head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to halt the investigation into former Deputy Minister Kim's illegal travel ban case.