Prosecutors May Summon Yoon Mi-hyang Next Week

After 30 Days, Will Gain Status as a Member of the National Assembly, High Possibility of Noncompliance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating various allegations of misconduct surrounding the Justice and Memory Solidarity (Jeonguiyeondae) is weighing the timing of summoning Yoon Mi-hyang, the key figure and newly elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea (former director of Jeonguiyeondae). With the opening of the 21st National Assembly on the 30th, and Yoon’s status changing to that of a lawmaker, it seems highly likely that the summons will take place next week. After the 30th, she will gain parliamentary immunity from arrest, increasing the possibility of her refusing to appear.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, the prosecution plans to analyze the materials seized from the offices of Jeonguiyeondae and the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Jeongdaehyeop) over the weekend, and then coordinate the timing of summoning Yoon and others for questioning. Typically, the prosecution analyzes the search and seizure materials to organize the questions, summons the complainants for investigation, and finally summons the accused. Accordingly, the Western District Prosecutors’ Office investigation team is expected to first summon related civic group members who filed the complaints for questioning before notifying Yoon and others of their summons. A prosecution official stated, "We will call the suspect after preparing the questions for interrogation."

The key issue is how much the prosecution can shorten this period. According to senior prosecution officials, the Criminal Division 4 of the Western District Prosecutors’ Office, which was assigned the case against Yoon, has been joined by Criminal Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Lee Byung-seok) and Criminal Division 5 (Chief Prosecutor Bae Moon-gi) in the investigation. It is reported that strict confidentiality is being maintained regarding the investigation details. A Western District Prosecutors’ Office official said in a phone call, "We cannot disclose any information related to the investigation to the outside."

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