[Timeline] From the Conflict Ignition Between Chu Mi-ae and Yoon Seok-yeol to the 2-Month Suspension

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

March 2020

31 / MBC reports allegations of 'media-prosecutor collusion' involving former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae and Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon

April

6 / Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media files a complaint against reporter Lee Dong-jae and others at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office

8 / Human Rights Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office begins investigation into allegations under Chief Prosecutor Yoon's orders

13 / Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office assigns the case to Criminal Division 1

28 / Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office conducts a search and seizure at Channel A headquarters

29 / Chief Prosecutor Yoon instructs Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to conduct a balanced investigation

June

2 / Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office conducts search and seizure of mobile phones of reporter Lee and legal team leader reporter Bae Mo

4 / Chief Prosecutor Yoon delegates investigation orders related to the case to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office department chiefs meeting

14 / Lee's side files a petition requesting convening of a special investigation advisory group, citing distrust in the investigation team

16 / Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office conducts search and seizure of Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon's mobile phone

17 / Prosecutor Han issues a statement claiming that the Channel A reporter used a false name

19 / Supreme Prosecutors' Office decides to convene a special advisory group

25 / Ministry of Justice transfers Prosecutor Han to the Judicial Research and Training Institute as a research fellow and initiates direct inspection. Channel A dismisses reporter Lee.

29 / Minister Chu criticizes the convening of the special advisory group as a "bad precedent"

30 / Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team requests the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to suspend the convening of the special advisory group and to grant an independent status equivalent to a special prosecutor. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office rejects the request.

July

2 / Minister Chu exercises investigative command authority, ordering suspension of the special advisory group convening procedure and suspension of Chief Prosecutor Yoon's command over the investigation team

3 / Chief Prosecutor Yoon convenes a nationwide prosecutors' chiefs meeting to discuss response to the minister's investigative command

6 / Supreme Prosecutors' Office reports to Chief Prosecutor Yoon that the prosecutors' chiefs meeting agreed on suspending the special advisory group and the need to introduce an independent special prosecutor

7 / Minister Chu urges Chief Prosecutor Yoon to promptly comply with the command as stated

8 / Minister Chu issues a final ultimatum to Chief Prosecutor Yoon, requesting a response by 10 a.m. on the 9th. Chief Prosecutor Yoon proposes forming an independent investigation headquarters led by Kim Young-dae, Seoul High Prosecutors' Office chief prosecutor

Seoul Seocho-gu Supreme Prosecutors' Office / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

October

16 / Former Star Mobility Chairman Kim Bong-hyun releases a handwritten statement claiming to have entertained current prosecutors with alcohol. Minister Chu orders an inspection

17 / Chief Prosecutor Yoon orders investigation into allegations of prosecutors being entertained with alcohol

19 / Minister Chu exercises investigative command authority over Lime lobbying allegations and Chief Prosecutor Yoon's family cases

22 / National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Chief Prosecutor Yoon states, "Legally, the Prosecutor General is not subordinate to the Minister"

26 / National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the Ministry of Justice. Minister Chu states, "There is command and supervision authority over the Prosecutor General"

November

16 / Ministry of Justice Inspection Office contacts Chief Prosecutor Yoon's secretary, requesting preferred schedule. Supreme Prosecutors' Office refuses to respond

17 / Ministry of Justice attempts to deliver a notice of planned visit investigation to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office by sending two ordinary prosecutors. Supreme Prosecutors' Office refuses to accept

18 / Ministry of Justice sends the notice of planned visit investigation to Chief Prosecutor Yoon by mail. Supreme Prosecutors' Office returns the notice

19 / Ministry of Justice inquires again about the visit investigation through the Prosecutor General's Secretariat. Supreme Prosecutors' Office effectively refuses. Ministry of Justice cancels the visit investigation plan for Chief Prosecutor Yoon

24 / Minister Chu announces suspension of Chief Prosecutor Yoon from duty and disciplinary charges

December

1 / Ministry of Justice holds an extraordinary meeting of the Inspection Committee. The committee recommends that disciplinary charges, suspension from duty, and investigation requests are inappropriate

/ Chief Prosecutor Yoon applies to the Ministry of Justice for postponement of the disciplinary committee date and requests three witnesses including Ryu Hyuk, Ministry of Justice inspector

/ Seoul Administrative Court Administrative Division 4 partially grants suspension of effect of Chief Prosecutor Yoon's suspension from duty. Chief Prosecutor Yoon returns to work and attends the Supreme Prosecutors' Office one week after suspension

/ Ministry of Justice postpones the disciplinary committee to the 4th

/ Kim Wook-jun, First Deputy Chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, tenders resignation to Prosecutor General Lee Sung-yoon

2 / President Moon Jae-in nominates lawyer Lee Yong-gu as Deputy Minister of Justice

/ Chief Prosecutor Yoon requests another change of disciplinary committee date

3 / New Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu begins term

/ Ministry of Justice postpones disciplinary committee again to the 10th

4 / Chief Prosecutor Yoon files a constitutional complaint and injunction against the provision of the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act that allows the Minister of Justice to lead the composition of the disciplinary committee

/ Minister Chu immediately appeals the partial injunction decision

7 / National Assembly Judges' Representative Meeting decides not to express position on the 'judge surveillance allegation document'

8 / Deputy Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan assigns the 'judge surveillance' investigation and other cases involving Yoon Seok-youl to Seoul High Prosecutors' Office

/ Chief Prosecutor Yoon adds four more witnesses including Prosecutor General Lee Sung-yoon, Deputy Chief of Inspection Han Dong-soo, and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung

10 / Ministry of Justice holds the first disciplinary committee for Chief Prosecutor Yoon. Yoon does not attend. First meeting ends

14 / Chief Prosecutor Yoon's side requests disclosure of preliminary committee member selection and timing from Ministry of Justice

15 / Second disciplinary committee hearing begins

16 / Disciplinary committee decides on two-month suspension for Chief Prosecutor Yoon

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