Prosecutor General's Office Reviews Request to Suspend Lee Seong-yoon's Duties over 'Investigation Interference' Indictment

Lee Seong-yoon, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who has been indicted on charges of abuse of authority, is arriving by car at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 13th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] On the 13th, it was reported that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is reviewing whether the charges against Lee Seong-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who has been indicted, constitute misconduct subject to inspection and disciplinary action.

Chief Prosecutor Lee was indicted on charges of exerting external pressure on the Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which was investigating the illegal travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.

If the Supreme Prosecutors' Office determines that these allegations against Chief Prosecutor Lee are subject to inspection, it can request Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye to suspend Lee from his duties.

Article 8 of the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act stipulates that "the Prosecutor General may request the Minister to suspend a prosecutor from duty if there are grounds for dismissal or suspension and disciplinary action is expected."

However, it is reported that this inspection and disciplinary review is being conducted at a fundamental level following Chief Prosecutor Lee's indictment. Generally, investigations and inspections or disciplinary actions against prosecutors proceed simultaneously.

Even if the Supreme Prosecutors' Office requests Chief Prosecutor Lee's suspension, it is uncertain whether Minister Park will accept it.

On the 11th, Minister Park indicated that he has no intention to take separate measures against Chief Prosecutor Lee immediately, stating, "Not all indictments lead to disciplinary action."

On the same day, regarding whether to exclude Chief Prosecutor Lee from duty or file disciplinary charges, he said, "This is not an issue to conclude easily. We need to examine it further."

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