Respecting Yoon Seok-yeol Disciplinary Committee's Decision... Reasons for Prosecution Reform Have Become Clear

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea stated on the 16th that they "respect the disciplinary committee's judgment" regarding Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's two-month suspension penalty from the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee, and announced that they will further accelerate prosecutorial reform, including the launch of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gongu-cheo).

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 16th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, held a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly that morning and said, "We respect the disciplinary committee's judgment. The fact that the incumbent Prosecutor General received a severe disciplinary action reveals how significant the issues within the prosecution are." He emphasized, "The reasons why prosecutorial reform is necessary have become even clearer. We will continue prosecutorial reform. Gongu-cheo will also contribute to the democratic control of the prosecution."

He added, "I hope the procedures such as the appointment of the Gongu-cheo chief candidate proceed swiftly," and urged, "We must also strive to stabilize the prosecution organization for the sake of the majority of prosecutors who work diligently."

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader, did not directly mention Prosecutor General Yoon's name during the meeting but reiterated the necessity of launching Gongu-cheo and prosecutorial reform. Kim said, "The current controversies and conflicts surrounding prosecutorial reform are the pains of normalizing the prosecution from political and power-driven prosecution to a prosecution for the people," and added, "Now, systems and reforms to normalize the prosecution's excessive authority must be promoted."

Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 16th, delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He emphasized, "Until now, there has been no organization to check and control the unchecked power abuse of the prosecution," and said, "In that regard, we must accelerate the launch of Gongu-cheo, which is a task of the times."

He also said, "The launch of Gongu-cheo is not the end of reform but the beginning," and added, "I hope the candidate recommendation committee will recommend an independent and fair Gongu-cheo chief candidate whom the public can trust as soon as possible."

Supreme council member Kim Jong-min pointed out, "The meaning of this disciplinary action is not simply an administrative procedure for disciplinary reasons but also a public criticism of the Prosecutor General's abuse of duties and authority over the past year." Kim said, "There has never been a single prosecutor enjoying as much freedom of investigation as Prosecutor General Yoon," and criticized, "The problem is that this freedom is being abused." He continued, "Our people are answering that Prosecutor General Yoon has not been faithful in commanding and controlling the prosecution's unchecked authority."

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