Gwangju Local Lawmakers Urge Prosecutor General Sim Woojung to Resign Immediately

Gwangju Council Members Demand Prosecutor General Shim Woojeong's Resignation
Over Handling of Yoon Sukyeol's Release

Local council members in Gwangju affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea have called for the resignation of Prosecutor General Shim Woojeong, who gave up filing an immediate appeal regarding the release of President Yoon Sukyeol.

Democratic Party Gwangju City Party City and District Council Members' Hunger Strike Group. Photo by Jeong Dalseong, Gwangju Bukgu Council Member, Facebook capture

The Democratic Party's Gwangju City and District Council Members' Hunger Strike Group held a press conference in front of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office on the 13th, asserting, "Prosecutor General Shim Woojeong, who protected the forces of insurrection, must step down immediately."

Participating in the hunger strike were Gwangju City Council members Kim Nayoon and Myung Jin, Dong-gu Council member Moon Sunhwa, Seo-gu Council member Lim Sunghwa, Nam-gu Council member Oh Youngsoon, Buk-gu Council members Jung Dalsung and Hwang Yewon, and Gwangsan-gu Council members Kang Hansol and Yoon Youngil.

They criticized, "Prosecutor General Shim delayed the indictment of Yoon Sukyeol, giving the court an excuse, and ignored the order to file an immediate appeal even after the court's decision," adding, "He has abandoned his duty as Prosecutor General."

They also raised issues regarding the method of calculating the detention period, which has become a point of contention. "The court, on the 9th, calculated the detention period in 'hours' instead of 'days,' making a decision favorable to Yoon Sukyeol," they said, emphasizing, "However, since the enactment of the Criminal Procedure Act in 1954, calculation by 'days' has been the principle."

They continued, "On the 11th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued a directive to all prosecutors' offices nationwide to continue using the 'days' method as before," and argued, "This release is a clear political act by the prosecution."

The hunger strike group urged, "The National Assembly must immediately launch an investigation and take follow-up measures regarding prosecutors who aided in Yoon Sukyeol's release," and called on the Constitutional Court to "make a decision on Yoon Sukyeol's dismissal within this week."