Middle-ranking Prosecutors Also Issue Statement Saying "Suspension of Prosecutor General's Duties Is Unfair"

"Reconsider Yoon's Suspension"... Lee Chang-su Spokesperson, Jeon Moo-gon Policy Planning Director, and 27 Others Also Issue Statement

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] As frontline high prosecutors have requested Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae to reconsider the suspension order against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, mid-level executives of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office also issued a statement on the 26th declaring that "the disciplinary request and suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon are illegal and unjust."

Spokesperson Lee Chang-soo, Policy Planning Director Jeon Moo-gon, and 27 others posted a message titled "Position of Mid-level Executives of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office" on the internal prosecution network 'E-PROS' that morning.

In the statement, they said, "We are aware that although we are striving to meet the public's demand for prosecutorial reform, we still fall short in many ways," adding, "However, we agreed that remaining silent about the recent situations surrounding the prosecution is not the right attitude for public officials."

They continued, "Prosecutors have the mission to protect our citizens from crime and to realize a free and stable democratic society through the full implementation of the rule of law," and stated, "The disciplinary request and suspension order against the Prosecutor General on the 24th were carried out without following due process and without sufficient fact-finding, making them illegal and unjust."

They further noted, "This not only undermines the political neutrality of the prosecution but also severely damages prosecutorial reform and, ultimately, the cherished principle of the rule of law in the Republic of Korea," and earnestly requested the Minister of Justice to reconsider the disciplinary request and suspension so that the prosecution can fulfill its responsibilities and duties according to the Constitution and laws.

Finally, they emphasized, "We, too, as prosecutors working alongside the people, will faithfully carry out our fundamental duties."

Earlier on the same day, in addition to the mid-level executives of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, six frontline high prosecutors and prosecutors affiliated with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office research department also issued statements. From the previous day through this day, ordinary prosecutors have also consecutively released statements, escalating the so-called 'Choo-Yoon conflict' to its peak.

Meanwhile, Minister Choo decided on the 24th to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon and request disciplinary action against him. At a briefing in the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room at 6 p.m. that day, Minister Choo said, "The Ministry of Justice conducted a direct inspection into multiple allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor General and confirmed numerous serious and grave allegations."

In response, Prosecutor General Yoon filed an administrative lawsuit against Minister Choo at the Seoul Administrative Court through his representative at 3 p.m. on the 26th.

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