Seo Ji-hyun "I Accepted the Nomination for the Special Prosecutor on Insurrection... Feeling Humiliated by Yoon's Release"

"Witnessing the Prosecutorial Lawlessness... Hard to Find Words"
"If Only the Special Investigation Had Proceeded as Quickly as Possible"
"The Aspiration for Common Sense Will Surely Be Realized"

Former prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun revealed that she had accepted the proposal to be recommended as a candidate for the permanent special investigation team on insurrection, expressing that she felt "anger and humiliation" over President Yoon Seok-yeol's release.

On the 8th, Seo posted on her social media service (SNS), "Last December, I received a proposal from a recommendation committee member to be a candidate for the permanent special investigation team on insurrection. I hesitated a lot," and opened up by saying, "I did not want to lose the peace of everyday life I had barely regained, and it seemed obvious that they would say 'women are not suitable' due to the 'weight' of the position." She added, "In serious cases, it has always been natural to appoint 'middle-aged men' who are former 'special investigation prosecutors' as special investigators, citing 'weight' and 'expertise,'" and argued, "However, most of them have disappointed the public's expectations, the prosecution enjoyed absolute power, and some used it as a means for personal gain."

Former Prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

She continued, "In the bone-chilling winter, seeing the brightly burning hearts hoping for the restoration of democracy and justice made me feel deeply sorry for my hesitation," and stated, "If I could part ways with the prosecutorial power that wielded absolute authority in this ruthless era, if I could declare an end to the rampant violence and barbarity, if I could plant the seed of breaking away from the old era where the citizen's default was male and women's names were erased, I felt I could not avoid doing what I could." She then confessed, "Seeing the prosecution, which had been so broken, ultimately create a 'prosecutor republic' that mocks the state, justice, and the rule of law made me feel infinitely ashamed to have been a prosecutor," and added, "I felt that this could be a hope for women, whistleblowers, and victims of sexual violence within the institution to continue their careers and daily lives even after exposing the darkness inside."

Seo said, "After replying that I would not avoid the special investigator candidate recommendation, I refrained from Facebook and news to avoid any prejudice and spent a frustrating time. Then I saw Yoon Seok-yeol being released," and criticized, "It is difficult to find words after witnessing the court’s ignorance and complacency in making a judgment against the law and not even exercising its authority to detain, the unprecedented abandonment of immediate appeals, and the prosecution’s shamelessness with no apology, reflection, or responsibility."

She expressed, "'If the special investigation had proceeded as quickly as possible,' I feel a deep regret," and said, "We are living through an incredibly frustrating time. It is hard to suppress anger, humiliation, and despair at news that is hard to believe or understand." Nevertheless, she emphasized, "Democracy has never been easy. Our people have never given up," and added, "If we gather a little more strength, this period will surely be recorded as an era of national transformation that prevented a major national upheaval. Let us believe together that our aspirations for democracy, the rule of law, and common sense will definitely be realized."