[Comprehensive] From the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to Daejeon and Cheongju District Prosecutors' Offices... 'Prosecutors Support' Flower Wreath Relay

Suspicions of Economic Feasibility Manipulation in Wolsong Unit 1 Investigation by Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office
Prosecutor Who Criticized Minister Chu on Internal Network Assigned to Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office
Some Conservative Groups Continue 'Support Wreath Relay'

On the morning of the 9th, a wreath supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol was placed in front of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Following the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, wreaths bearing supportive messages for the prosecution have appeared at local prosecutors' offices such as Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office and Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office. This is interpreted as an effort to bolster the prosecution, which is clashing with the ruling party over allegations of economic evaluation manipulation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 and related issues.

On the morning of the 9th, large wreaths with phrases such as "Please restore the rule of law in the Republic of Korea" and "Please eradicate the parasites abusing power, prosecutors of the Republic of Korea" were placed in front of the entrance to the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office, which are conducting searches related to the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 evaluation manipulation allegations and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) affiliated energy public enterprises. The wreaths were sent by the group "All members of the 'Let's Protect Yoon Seok-yeol (Prosecutor General)' band."

Meanwhile, the same group also sent a wreath to the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office on the same day. This is the first time such a wreath has been placed at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, and some speculate that it might be a performance to express support for Chief Prosecutor Jeong Hee-do of the Criminal Division 1 at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, who had strongly criticized Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.

Chief Prosecutor Jeong posted an article titled "Supporting the Prosecutor General" on the prosecution's internal network 'Eprose' on the 21st of last month. In the article, he criticized Minister Choo, saying, "I was surprised by the so-called 'prosecutor general crushed the case' suspicion confirmed within three days, which is like the 'Gungye's psychic power' level of investigative ability, and then I was surprised again to see the second investigation directive exercised despite the former Seoul Southern District Prosecutor clearly stating it was not true."

He added, "I have personally come to hope that no active politician should be appointed as Minister of Justice for true prosecution reform."

On the morning of the 25th of last month, wreaths supporting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol were placed at the entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

The so-called 'wreath relay' that started at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office seems to be expanding to local prosecutors' offices. Previously, some conservative groups such as 'Freedom Solidarity' and 'Patriotic Patrol Team' began lining up wreaths in front of the entrance to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, starting from the 19th of last month. These wreaths, bearing messages supporting Prosecutor General Yoon such as "We are all Yoon Seok-yeol," "The country lives if Yoon Seok-yeol lives," and "Yoon Seok-yeol will definitely win," increased to over 350 by the 28th before being voluntarily removed by the conservative groups.

The continuous sending of wreaths by these conservative groups appears to be a performance supporting the prosecution, which is in conflict with the ruling party over the investigation of the Wolseong Unit 1 allegations and others.

After the prosecution conducted searches on MOTIE and its affiliated public enterprises, the ruling party criticized the prosecution as conducting a "political investigation."

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (center), is speaking at the 1st 4.7 By-election Planning Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the 6th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the prosecution's search at the party's Supreme Council meeting, calling it "a political investigation and abuse of prosecutorial power," and said, "The Board of Audit and Inspection did not even request an investigation, but the prosecution responded massively to a politically motivated case filed by the opposition party."

Kim Jong-min, a Supreme Council member of the same party, labeled the prosecution's investigation as a "commissioned investigation," urging, "I appeal to the prosecutors of the Republic of Korea. Do not condone the political acts and unconstitutional political interference of some political prosecutors. The 'Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution' is going down the wrong path," criticizing the prosecution.

On the 9th, the ruling party intensified its offensive against the prosecution. Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting, "The prosecution is repeating 'political investigations to shake the regime' that frustrated prosecutorial reforms during the administrations of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun," and strongly criticized, "The prosecution's political interference is a retrogression against democracy."

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