From Prime Minister to Party Leader... Are They Framing Yoon for Rebellion to Oust Him?

Lee Hae-chan "Prosecutors' insubordination cannot be overlooked"... Boomerang to President Moon who rapidly promoted Yoon Seok-yeol

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Won Dara] "The prosecution's insubordination is not something that can be overlooked." On the 10th, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, defined Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's actions as 'insubordination' during the Supreme Council meeting. This is another important signal alongside Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon's earlier emphasis on the insubordination frame.

On the morning of the 10th, at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee Hae-chan criticized the prosecution personnel affairs, saying, "The Ministry of Justice followed the procedures," and added, "The prosecution's insubordination is not something that can be simply overlooked." He continued, "It seems that the Minister of Justice did not follow the procedures properly, but when I heard what the Minister of Justice told me yesterday at the National Assembly, the procedures were thoroughly followed."

He also criticized, "We talked on the phone for over an hour, and even after the personnel committee meeting, I asked them to share their opinions, but to say that such procedures were skipped is unacceptable." He raised his voice in a very strong tone regarding Prosecutor General Yoon's insubordination controversy related to prosecution personnel affairs. This appears to represent the ruling party's current sentiment toward the prosecution.

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Earlier, on the 9th, Prime Minister Lee stated in a press release from the Prime Minister's Office, "It is regrettable as a public official's attitude that the Prosecutor General refused the request for opinion hearing by the Minister of Justice as stipulated by the Prosecutors' Office Act during the personnel process." Considering the political situation where the Blue House finds it difficult to intervene directly, this can be interpreted as a 'final ultimatum' message from the ruling party. There is also an interpretation that it is a warning that it would be difficult to perform the 'position' if Prosecutor General Yoon's attitude does not change.

As Prosecutor General Yoon refused the request for opinion hearing by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae regarding prosecution personnel affairs, an agitated atmosphere is being openly exposed both inside and outside the ruling party. Minister Choo stated on the 9th at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, "The Prosecutor General disobeyed my order."

The Blue House is holding back and being cautious with its words, but a sense of discomfort is being sensed. When a key Blue House official expressed 'regret,' various interpretations arose. Considering the situation where the Blue House publicly sent a warning message to the prosecution, every word and expression inevitably becomes sensitive.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoon Do-han, the Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Communication, pointed out on the 23rd of last month, "The Blue House is not an institution that works by obtaining permission from the prosecution for every political judgment and decision." This is why there is an interpretation that the ruling party's insubordination frame is an expression of accumulated criticism so far.

The problem is that the ruling party's flow of 'disparaging Prosecutor General Yoon' could backfire on President Moon Jae-in. On the 2nd, when President Moon presented the appointment letter to Minister Choo, he said, "I ask you to work well in harmony with the Prosecutor General."

The person who made Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol into Chief Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol was President Moon. On May 19, 2017, President Moon appointed then Prosecutor Yoon, who was at Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

He entrusted the position of head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which was held by the 18th Judicial Research and Training Institute class, to Prosecutor Yoon of the 23rd class, five classes junior. This is why it was evaluated as a rapid promotion. On June 17 last year, President Moon again made a sensational appointment by nominating Prosecutor Yoon, who was five classes junior to then Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il, as Prosecutor General.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung did not hold back praise during the briefing that day, saying, "As head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he led the investigation of state affairs manipulation and eradication of deep-rooted evils to success with outstanding leadership and reform will, earning trust not only within the prosecution but also from the public." This means President Moon designated Prosecutor General Yoon as the right person to root out various remaining corruption and malpractices in our society.

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is moving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, ahead of a visit to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on the 7th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Recently, disparaging remarks about Prosecutor General Yoon from the core of the ruling party could strengthen the frame of President Moon's 'personnel disaster.' Despite criticisms that it was a 'reckless move,' the consecutive sensational promotions of Prosecutor General Yoon remain a political burden. Even if Prosecutor General Yoon decides to resign, from the ruling party's perspective, it would not be a situation that feels like a relief as if a toothache has been removed.

Whether Prosecutor General Yoon continues an uncomfortable relationship with the ruling party as he is now, resigns suddenly, or whatever the outcome, the Blue House may face aftershocks. Since the Prosecutor General's two-year term is guaranteed by law, it is not possible to forcibly remove him. The reason can be understood by recalling the attitude the Democratic Party took when watching the replacement process of then Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook during the Park Geun-hye administration.

From the ruling party's perspective, improving the strained relationship with the prosecution may be the best situation, but it is questionable whether Prosecutor General Yoon, who has already experienced the pain of having his own limbs cut off, will completely change his attitude by 180 degrees. On the 10th, Park Ji-won, a member of the Alternative Party, said in an interview with BBS Radio's 'Lee Sang-hwi's Morning Journal,' "It seems that Prosecutor General Yoon and the executives do not have any organized movements," and added, "In the long term, it is not desirable for the Minister and the Prosecutor General to have conflicts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.