On Choo Mi-ae's Inauguration Day... Prosecution in Silence Before the Storm

Prosecutor General and Mid-Level Executives Replaced at Once
Possible Immediately After Minister's Inauguration
Resistance Expected If Personnel Changes Are Excessive

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is answering questions from reporters after paying respects at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the morning of the 3rd, the first day of Choo Mi-ae's inauguration as Minister of Justice, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol attended the Supreme Prosecutors' Office executive meeting. Most of the aides, including Han Dong-hoon, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and Park Chan-ho, Head of the Public Investigation Division, attended this regular meeting. Since it was a closed meeting, the details of the discussions remain undisclosed. However, the unusually silent atmosphere at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building that day reflected the mood in the meeting room.

The prosecution did not issue an official statement regarding Minister Choo's inauguration that day. It is known that the policy is to continue investigations calmly without being swayed by external pressures. At the Supreme Prosecutors' Office New Year's ceremony the day before, Prosecutor General Yoon said, "I will protect your rightful convictions until the end." This means he intends to do everything he can to ensure that investigations targeting key figures in the administration are not weakened. However, if the prosecution continues to target the Blue House, a direct confrontation between Minister Choo and Prosecutor General Yoon could arise, and in such a case, there is speculation in the legal community that Minister Choo could actively check the prosecution's investigations.

The authority Minister Choo holds includes the power to direct investigations over the Prosecutor General and personnel authority over the prosecution. Inside and outside the prosecution, there is a high expectation that she will exercise personnel authority soon after her inauguration. A clue to this is the Blue House's order to the police to collect character evaluations on candidates for senior prosecution positions. It is said that within the prosecution, there is widespread speculation that from the level of chief prosecutors to mid-level executives, personnel changes will be made all at once. Minister Choo also drew a clear line during her confirmation hearing, stating, "Prosecution personnel matters are not decided in consultation with the Prosecutor General but opinions are heard." This is interpreted as indicating her intention to carry out personnel changes regardless of Prosecutor General Yoon's or the prosecution's internal opinions.

However, as Prosecutor General Yoon pledged, if Minister Choo exercises personnel authority excessively, there is also much speculation that the prosecution will counterattack through intensified investigations. It is suggested that the investigation into the alleged interference in the Ulsan mayoral election could be used to pressure Minister Choo. The prosecution has already begun a full-scale investigation into those around Minister Choo regarding this case. The day before, they summoned and questioned Mr. Jung, who served as deputy chief of staff during Minister Choo's time as leader of the Democratic Party. Mr. Jung is known to have met with Song Cheol-ho, Mayor of Ulsan, before last year's local elections to discuss election strategies. The prosecution appears to be considering the possibility that Minister Choo's intentions were reflected in this series of events.

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