Prosecutor General: "Yoon Opposes the Legislation of the Central Investigation Agency"... "Additional Statements Considered Upon Gathering Opinions from Field Offices"

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is leaving the Ministry of Justice building after meeting with Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, who is about to take office, at the Gyeonggi Government Gwacheon Complex on the 1st of last month. / Gwacheon - Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 2nd, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office clarified its position on Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's stance regarding the establishment of the Serious Crimes Investigation Office (Jungsucheong) reported that day, stating it was “a clear expression of concern and opposition.”

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office also mentioned that it is considering issuing an additional statement once the collection of opinions from frontline prosecutors' offices regarding the establishment of Jungsucheong is completed.

In a statement sent to reporters in the afternoon, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said, “The interview with Prosecutor General Yoon published today clearly expresses concern and opposition to the legislative movement for Jungsucheong, which is premised on the complete abolition of the prosecution's direct investigative authority over serious crimes, and directly states his usual convictions about the spirit of the Constitution and the rule of law.”

It added, “Currently, opinions from frontline offices are being collected, and once this process is complete, we will consider issuing an additional statement through an appropriate method.”

In the interview with Kukmin Ilbo on the same day, Prosecutor General Yoon clearly opposed the ruling party's proposed 'separation of investigation and prosecution' plan, including the establishment of Jungsucheong.

He strongly criticized the ruling party's legislative push for the establishment of Jungsucheong as a de facto “dismantling of the prosecution,” calling it an annihilation of the rule of law and destruction of the constitutional spirit.

He pointed out, “If investigation and prosecution are separated, it will be impossible to firmly respond to the unfair acts of social strongholds and vested interests,” and added, “The realization of justice through law enforcement ultimately involves filing a lawsuit and obtaining a judicial ruling, and investigation, prosecution, and maintenance of public prosecution cannot be separated.”

He continued, “This is not simply about the prosecution organization but a hasty legislation that destroys the criminal justice system built over 70 years,” and said, “If it is something I can stop by staking my position, I will do so a hundred times.”

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 3rd, Prosecutor General Yoon will visit the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office to hold a meeting with affiliated prosecutors and staff.

Attention is focused on the possibility of additional statements from Prosecutor General Yoon regarding the establishment of Jungsucheong during the process of answering reporters' questions before entering the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office building or during the meeting with staff.

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