Despite Mass Indictments by Prosecutors, the Ministry of Justice Remains Quiet... Reluctant to Use Inspection Measures

When Chief Secretary Choi Kang-wook Criticized "Snap Voting"
Now Silent
Minister Chu Mi-ae Checks Yoon Seok-youl
Only Has Inspection Card, Deep in Thought

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Regarding the prosecution's mass indictment of 13 former key Blue House officials, neither the Blue House nor the Ministry of Justice has expressed any particular stance as of the 30th.

This contrasts with the strong backlash calling it a 'rush job' when the prosecution indicted Choi Kang-wook, the Blue House Secretary for Public Office Discipline, on the 23rd. Despite the Blue House's superficial explanation that there is no position because these are indictments of 'former' officials, separate from Secretary Choi, there is analysis that this silence is strategic, keeping future response methods in mind. Since the prosecution's sudden indictment decision preempted the plan to block the indictment itself by exercising investigative command authority, there is also speculation that the Ministry of Justice finds it 'awkward to make a move.'

With the prosecution indicting most of the three major regime corruption suspects such as Cho Kuk, Yoo Jae-soo, and Song Cheol-ho, the only card Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae seems to have left is 'inspection.' The Ministry of Justice hinted at the possibility of inspection immediately after Secretary Choi's indictment, but the situation is somewhat different this time. If the Ministry of Justice moves to inspect Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who made the indictment decision, it sends a message to 'resign.' Pressuring the Prosecutor General, who has been investigating the regime, to resign is likely to work unfavorably for the Blue House in future situations such as the general election.

The fact that the prosecution holds additional indictment cards is also a burden for the Ministry of Justice. The prosecution, while sending 13 people to trial yesterday over election interference suspicions, left Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Lee Kwang-chul and former Presidential Secretary Im Jong-seok unprosecuted. It is known that the prosecution plans to decide on indicting Secretary Lee and Secretary Im after the general election, but if the Ministry of Justice uses the inspection card before the election, it may overturn this plan.

Meanwhile, controversy over the indictment procedures continues inside and outside the prosecution. Following the clash between the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution over Secretary Choi's indictment process, it has come to light that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Sung-yoon expressed opposing opinions even during the indictment of the 13 people, drawing attention. Prosecutor General Yoon reportedly expressed the position that "there is sufficient evidence and considering the fairness of the general election, indictment should proceed swiftly" along with most prosecution executives during the regular meeting held from 10 a.m. for an hour and a half the previous day. In contrast, only Prosecutor Lee opposed, stating, "For former Ulsan Police Chief Hwang Un-ha and others, indictment decisions should be made after summons investigations and consulting the expert investigation advisory group." He is also said to have separately submitted a written objection to Prosecutor General Yoon opposing the indictment.

However, unlike the indictment of Secretary Choi, which was made by 'passing over' Prosecutor Lee, it is noteworthy that the indictment of the 13 was decided in a meeting in which Prosecutor Lee participated. The Ministry of Justice's grounds for raising the need for inspection by questioning the indictment procedure are somewhat weak, and this is also analyzed as one of the reasons why the Ministry of Justice has remained silent.

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