On the Day Choo Mi-ae Criticized the Move, Yoon Seok-yeol Urged Investigation of the Living Power (Comprehensive)

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (right) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol said on the 3rd, "We must severely punish crimes committed by social elites and become the people's prosecution." This statement is interpreted as a de facto opposition message to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's remark that "the prosecution is not an investigative agency focused on direct investigations."

Yoon Seok-yeol: "Crimes by Social Elites Must Be Severely Punished"

On the afternoon of the same day, Yoon gave a leadership lecture to newly appointed chief prosecutors at the main building of the Judicial Research and Training Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk, stating, "The vision and goal of prosecution reform is to guarantee fairness and equality in the process of enforcing criminal law." This echoed President Moon Jae-in's request at the time of Yoon's inauguration last year to "investigate even the living powers," conveying this message to junior prosecutors.

Yoon also emphasized, "As a chief, it is necessary to act as a counselor like an older brother or sister to the members and to foster emotional solidarity." He added, "Leadership that builds good teamwork, accurate evaluation of members, and fair distribution of work are important," and urged, "Please guide juniors from an objective perspective by stepping back from the case." This was an explanation of the virtues that prosecution executives should possess.

Yoon gave a lecture lasting about an hour to around 30 newly appointed chief prosecutors from the 33rd and 34th classes of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. This on-site activity took place amid a confrontational phase with Minister Choo. While some viewed it as an effort to strengthen internal unity, Yoon generally conveyed a restrained message to the junior prosecutors.

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is moving within the Jincheon Legal Research and Training Institute on the afternoon of the 3rd to give a lecture to about 30 prosecutors who were promoted to chief prosecutors this year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Choo Mi-ae: "Yoon Seok-yeol's Actions Cause Public Trust to Decline"

However, the very act of expanding contact with frontline prosecutors is still interpreted as having significant meaning both inside and outside the prosecution. The conflict with Minister Choo has deepened amid the National Assembly audit, and recently, the internal atmosphere of the prosecution has also become tense. Hundreds of supportive comments have been posted on the internal prosecution network in response to posts opposing Minister Choo's excessive use of personnel, command, and inspection authority. In a situation showing signs of a so-called 'prosecution crisis,' there are talks that Yoon is trying to consolidate internal unity.

On the 29th of last month, Yoon visited Daejeon, where another close aide, Daejeon District Prosecutor General Lee Doo-bong, is stationed. Although the official reason was to resume the local office tour schedule that had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some criticized the visit as somewhat inappropriate amid the confrontational phase with Minister Choo.

Minister Choo strongly criticized Yoon's actions that day, saying, "They undermine the political neutrality of the prosecution and cause public trust to decline." She pointed out that political neutrality is demanded more strictly of the prosecution than any other institution as a power agency, but the Prosecutor General is failing in this regard. Minister Choo also emphasized, "I consider the current situation a very serious issue," and added, "We will communicate with prosecutors to complete prosecution reform so that the prosecution can truly become a human rights advocacy agency rather than an investigative agency."

Two wreaths supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol are placed in front of the Legal Research and Training Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk on the 3rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Support Wreaths Appear... Meeting with Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon

On that day, wreaths placed by supporters of Prosecutor General Yoon were set up at the entrance of the Judicial Research and Training Institute. The wreaths, under the name of "Yoon Seok-yeol (Po Cheong-cheon) Band Members," bore inscriptions such as "Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is our hero" and "Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, stay strong."

It was reported that Yoon also met with Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, who is classified as one of his closest aides, before the lecture. Han was demoted to Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Busan High Prosecutors' Office in the personnel reshuffle this January and was later transferred to the Judicial Research and Training Institute amid investigations into the so-called "media-prosecution collusion" allegations. Recently, he has been facing difficulties as allegations of involvement in the Lime Asset Management case have been raised by the ruling party and others.

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