Ministry of Justice on the 'Sanggatchip Defiance Incident': "Disgraceful... Deeply Regrettable"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae expressed regret, calling the incident where a deputy chief prosecutor publicly protested to his direct superior regarding the indictment of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk an "improper behavior at a funeral" and described it as "regrettable."

On the morning of the 20th, the Ministry of Justice distributed a statement titled "Notice Regarding Improper Behavior of Senior Prosecutors at a Funeral" to reporters. The Ministry stated, "Key senior officials of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office engaged in inappropriate conduct such as drinking alcohol and shouting loudly at a solemn funeral late at night, in front of ordinary people, which is behavior unbefitting even common citizens," and conveyed Minister Choo's position, saying, "As the highest supervisor of the prosecution, the Minister of Justice deeply regrets causing concern to the public."

In the notice, Minister Choo said, "It is regrettable that various unsavory incidents that prosecutors have shown at funerals several times in the past have not yet been improved, and moreover, it is deplorable that several senior prosecutors caused such an incident late at night," adding, "The Ministry of Justice will strive to change the prosecution's flawed organizational culture and ensure public officials maintain proper discipline so that such incidents never happen again."

The Ministry of Justice's unusual warning message regarding an internal prosecutorial matter is interpreted as a strong indication that strict measures will be taken against senior officials of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office who showed insubordinate attitudes toward their superiors, such as Senior Researcher Yang, using this incident as a pretext. There is also analysis that this incident reflects a conflict between the existing investigation team handling the administration's misconduct investigations and the faction appointed after Minister Choo Mi-ae's inauguration.

On the 18th, controversy arose when it was revealed that Senior Researcher Yang Seok-jo (47, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 29) of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Anti-Corruption and Violence Division loudly protested to newly appointed Division Chief Shim Jae-cheol (51, Class 27) at the funeral of Yang's father-in-law. Senior Researcher Yang reportedly protested to Division Chief Shim in informal language, saying, "Explain why Cho Kuk was cleared of charges," and "Are you even a prosecutor?" regarding the indictment of former Minister Cho.

Earlier, Division Chief Shim reportedly expressed the opinion at a meeting presided over by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl last week that "(the abuse of power charges against former Minister Cho) should be reconsidered from the beginning," and instructed the Supreme Prosecutors' Office researchers to prepare a report of no charges.

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