Author Lee Yeon-ju, Whom Choo Was Reading, Says "If It Were Me, Yoon Would Have Been At Least Dismissed"

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae underlined the part stating "Specialized prosecutors try to sacrifice the Central Investigation Department to protect the Prosecutor General's position" while reading the book titled "Why I Left the Prosecution" written by lawyer Lee Yeon-ju during the National Assembly plenary session on the afternoon of the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Former prosecutor-turned-lawyer Lee Yeon-ju said that regarding the '2-month suspension' disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, if it were her, she would have "at least dismissed him."

On the 16th, on KBS Radio's 'Joo Jin-woo Live,' Lawyer Lee said, "According to Chairman Jeong Han-jung's media interview, the committee members were very divided between dismissal and suspension," adding, "I think they reached a compromise decision through negotiation."

When the host asked, "If you had been on the disciplinary committee, how would you have punished this case?" she replied, "I would have at least dismissed him," explaining, "I consider the surveillance of judges to be extremely serious as it can infringe upon the independence of judges' trials and the independence of the judiciary."

She also said, "The collective backlash against Prosecutor General Yoon's disciplinary action is a violation of the National Public Service Act," and explained, "Protecting one's own chief is not a matter of public interest."

She continued, "In 2009, when President Lee Myung-bak tried to control the media, teachers who made political declarations at protests against beef imports were all punished for violating the National Public Service Act. Also, in 2014, teachers who made political declarations during the Sewol ferry incident were all punished," adding, "They prosecuted and punished all the teachers who participated in political declarations, so I will watch to see if they investigate and prosecute themselves for violating the National Public Service Act."

Regarding the ongoing conflicts around the prosecution, Lawyer Lee said, "I believe Prosecutor General Yoon politicized investigations," adding, "He resisted the president's appointment power, opposed it, and intervened in state affairs through investigations."

She further stated, "It is extremely dangerous for the next presidential candidate to act as the Prosecutor General," and about Yoon's side's request to disqualify members of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee, she added, "There is no legal basis for it, but I think it is a political move to stir up mud and rally his political supporters."

Meanwhile, Lawyer Lee was appointed as a prosecutor at Incheon District Prosecutors' Office in 2001 and served for one year before leaving the prosecution in 2002. She is also the author of the book 'Why I Left the Prosecution,' which Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae read during the filibuster on the amendment to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Act at the National Assembly plenary session held in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th.

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