Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Living Power' Remark Criticized by Ruling Party as "Collective Resistance," "Obsessed with Political Power"

Lecture for New Prosecutors on the 3rd Emphasizes "Fair Investigation of Power Corruption"
Ruling Party Criticizes as "Real Prosecution Reform Starts with Reflecting on the Past" and Denounces "Prosecution Fascism" Claims

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol (left) 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. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol made remarks during a lecture to newly appointed prosecutors emphasizing that "even living powers must be investigated." In response, the ruling party strongly criticized him, saying, "Prosecutor General Yoon is obsessed with acquiring political power."

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 3rd, Yoon attended a leadership training lecture for 30 newly appointed chief prosecutors at the Legal Research and Training Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk. On that day, Yoon stated, "The prosecution was born from the republican spirit that the people are the owners of the country," and added, "The real prosecution reform that the people want is to investigate corruption by living powers fairly without hesitation."

He also emphasized, "The prosecution system began with the republican prosecution after the French Revolution," and "Since it was born from the republican spirit that 'the people are the owners of the country,' it must become the people's prosecution."

However, the Democratic Party criticized Yoon's remarks, arguing that "Prosecutor General Yoon is mobilizing prosecutors to oppose prosecution reform."

Democratic Party spokesperson Heo Young said in a statement on the 4th, "As Prosecutor General Yoon said, the prosecution's original role is to investigate all crimes and corruption thoroughly and fairly without sanctuary," but pointed out, "The prosecution has collectively resisted the power pushing for prosecution reform, has been lenient toward powers siding with the prosecution, and has neither investigated nor protected its own members."

He added, "The republican prosecution after the French Revolution mentioned by Yoon was also abused to suppress political opponents at the time," and emphasized, "Real prosecution reform begins with reflection and self-examination of a shameful past."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, wrote on his Facebook, "When discussing prosecution reform, the prosecution always argues that it must be able to investigate living powers or reject directed investigations," and "In the end, it concludes that the personnel authority of the prosecution should be given to the Prosecutor General."

Kim criticized, "Ultimately, they are advocating for prosecution fascism," and said, "Yoon Seok-yeol is currently mobilizing prosecutors to oppose prosecution reform and is in a serious state of obsession with acquiring political power."

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