Ministry of Justice Attempts Yoon Seok-yeol Inspection Without Prior Coordination

Two Prosecutors Sent to Demand Investigation Interview
Internal Prosecutors Resist "Blatant Humiliation"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 18th, it was reported that the Ministry of Justice sent two ordinary prosecutors to request an interview for a supervisory investigation of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, but the visit was aborted due to opposition from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. It was said to be a surprise visit without prior schedule coordination. Inside the prosecution, there are criticisms that this was "Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's blatant attempt to humiliate Prosecutor General Yoon."

According to the legal community on that day, two ordinary prosecutors belonging to the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Office visited the Supreme Prosecutors' Office the previous afternoon and requested a face-to-face supervisory investigation interview regarding Prosecutor General Yoon. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office reportedly told the two prosecutors who came without scheduling that "if an explanation is requested according to procedure, we will respond in writing," and sent them back to the Ministry of Justice. Afterwards, the head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Policy Planning Division reportedly returned the official letter envelope brought by the two prosecutors to the Ministry of Justice without even opening it. Both the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated that they "cannot confirm" this situation.

Inside and outside the prosecution, there is suspicion about the background of the supervisory investigation attempt on Prosecutor General Yoon without prior notice. In particular, it is known that this supervisory attempt was made without the knowledge of Ryu Hyuk, the Ministry of Justice Inspector General. Within the prosecution, voices are raised saying "this is unacceptable" and "there is not even minimal respect for public officials." Some even suspect that Minister Choo directly ordered the supervisory investigation to Park Eun-jung, the Ministry of Justice Inspection Officer under Ryu, bypassing Inspector General Ryu. Park is the spouse of Lee Jong-geun, head of the Criminal Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who is classified as a pro-government figure within the prosecution.

Previously, Minister Choo ordered three supervisory investigations related to Prosecutor General Yoon, including the execution of special activity expenses. On the 27th of last month, she ordered an investigation into the circumstances under which Prosecutor General Yoon, who was the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2018, dismissed the case without indictment despite receiving a request for investigation from the Korea Communications Agency regarding the Optimus Asset Management fund fraud case. Additionally, on the 22nd of last month, she ordered an investigation into suspicions that reports about lobbying allegations involving prosecutors and opposition politicians related to the Lime Asset Management case were not properly submitted.

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