Daegum "Democratic Party Prosecutor Impeachment, Ruling Party Abuse of Power"... "Intent to Obstruct Investigation and Trial"

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office strongly criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's push for the impeachment of prosecutors.

On the afternoon of the 9th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office released a statement titled "The Prosecution's Position on Prosecutor Impeachment," stating, "Following the Democratic Party's impeachment motion against Prosecutor Andongwan on September 21, they have once again proposed impeachment motions today against Prosecutors Son Junseong and Lee Jeongseop," and pointed out, "Impeachment is only recognized from the perspective of upholding the constitution when there is a serious constitutional or legal violation in the performance of duties that justifies the dismissal of a public official."

Seoul Seocho-dong Supreme Prosecutors' Office building. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, "The reasons for the Democratic Party's impeachment claims are either at the stage of suspicion or are matters being contested in judicial proceedings, making it difficult to consider them as grounds for impeachment," and added, "The Democratic Party's repeated multiple impeachment motions against prosecutors can only be seen as a political intention to abuse the power of the ruling party to retaliate against the prosecution, suspend prosecutors' execution of duties through impeachment, exert external pressure, and thereby obstruct investigations and trials."

Furthermore, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "Attacking the prosecution and impeaching prosecutors based on political purposes and party interests seriously undermines the prosecution's political neutrality and fairness and is an attempt to politicize the judiciary, which constitutes the destruction of the rule of law by the majority," and declared, "The prosecution will fulfill its duties entrusted by the people under the constitution without wavering in the face of any external pressure."

Earlier, the Democratic Party proposed the impeachment motions against Prosecutors Son and Lee as a party stance, but the motion failed to pass as the People Power Party gave up unlimited debate on the Yellow Envelope Act and the Broadcasting Three Acts.