Park Beom-gye, on whether Prosecutor General Lee Seong-yoon will be suspended from duty: "Prosecution, suspension, and disciplinary actions are separate procedures"

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung, indicted for 'abuse of authority,' likely to serve in duty as defendant
Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon excluded and transferred during suspicion phase... fairness controversy inevitable

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye is speaking at a meeting with legal reporters held at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the 11th. Photo by Ministry of Justice.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 11th, when asked whether Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, would take a suspension from duty measure against Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who is highly likely to be indicted soon on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of justice, he stated, "Being indicted and standing trial is a separate procedure from suspension from duty or disciplinary action."

Park Minister's response clearly indicates his position that even if Chief Prosecutor Lee is indicted, he will not be immediately suspended from duty, which is expected to spark controversy.

In June last year, then Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae took a suspension from duty measure against Han Dong-hoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office, who was involved in the 'Channel A Coercion Attempt' case, while the investigation was ongoing, and demoted him to a research committee member at the Legal Affairs Research Institute in Jincheon, Chungbuk. Although no clear evidence proving Han's charges emerged during the prosecution investigation, Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, has not closed the case despite repeated reports from the investigation team and deputy prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recommending a non-prosecution disposition.

On the other hand, former Minister Chu did not take suspension from duty measures against Jeong Jin-ung, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, who was even indicted for assaulting Prosecutor Han during a search and seizure process, causing injuries requiring three weeks of treatment (charged with official violence under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes).

Former Minister Chu also took suspension from duty measures against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, accusing him of judicial monitoring by distorting the prosecution's 'court analysis document' as a 'judge surveillance document.' However, the court accepted the suspension order's injunction application, halting the measure.

The Prosecutor Disciplinary Act stipulates that the Minister of Justice may order suspension from duty of the accused when deemed necessary. Given the controversy over suspension measures that conflicted with the fairness of the previous minister, if the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee (composed of ordinary citizens) recommends indictment and Chief Prosecutor Lee, who has been actually brought to trial, continues to serve as the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, the largest prosecution office in the country, significant repercussions are expected.

At a press conference with legal reporters held at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the afternoon of the 100th day of his inauguration, Minister Park said, "The conclusion on the indictment of Chief Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon has been reached, and he could be indicted as early as today. Considering past precedents, it may not be desirable in some respects. Even recently, there have been cases where suspects were placed on standby orders," when asked, "Are you considering suspension from duty measures against Chief Prosecutor Lee?" He replied, "I just received the results of the Investigation Deliberation Committee," adding, "I went to the Cabinet meeting and did not receive the report then, but I received it afterward, so it is difficult to give a direct answer."

He continued, "As I entered the building, reporters asked questions, and I said I had not thought deeply about it," and "This is actually happening now, and I just received the report, so I have not had time to think deeply about it," showing a cautious response.

However, Minister Park clearly stated, "As you know, the procedures and standards for being indicted and standing trial are separate tracks from suspension from duty or disciplinary actions you asked about. Not everyone who is indicted is disciplined, and separate audits are also possible. I believe there are separate standards."

Chief Prosecutor Lee is accused of exerting external pressure to cover up the investigation by the Anyang branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office into the 'Kim Hak-ui illegal deportation' case in 2019 when he was head of the Anti-Corruption and Violence Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

At the Investigation Deliberation Committee meeting held the day before, 8 out of 13 committee members participating in the deliberation expressed an 'indictment opinion' against Chief Prosecutor Lee. Furthermore, the committee overwhelmingly rejected Lee's side's claim that further investigation was necessary due to insufficient investigation, with 8 members opposing it.

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