'Cancellation of Yoon Seok-yeol's 2-Month Suspension' Administrative Lawsuit First Trial Verdict Today

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial verdict in the administrative lawsuit challenging the legality of the Ministry of Justice’s disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol will be announced on the 14th.

According to the court, at 2 p.m. on the same day, the Seoul Administrative Court Administrative Division 12 (Presiding Judge Jeong Yong-seok) will hold a hearing to deliver the verdict on the lawsuit filed by former Prosecutor General Yoon against the Minister of Justice, seeking the cancellation of the disciplinary action.

Previously, former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae excluded former Prosecutor General Yoon from his duties in November last year and held a disciplinary committee in December of the same year, issuing a two-month suspension. The reasons for the disciplinary action cited by the Ministry of Justice at the time were ▲the creation and distribution of documents alleging surveillance of major case trial panels ▲obstruction of inspection related to the Channel A case ▲obstruction of investigation related to the Channel A case ▲violation of political neutrality.

Yoon’s side argued that these disciplinary reasons were either untrue or not problematic, and therefore both the exclusion from duty and the disciplinary action should be canceled. He applied for a suspension of execution (stay of effect) regarding the exclusion from duty and disciplinary action, and the court accepted both requests within a week, allowing him to return to his duties. Yoon later resigned from his position as Prosecutor General in March this year, about four months before the end of his term, and declared his candidacy for the presidential election in June.

Meanwhile, Yoon’s side is also separately proceeding with an administrative lawsuit regarding the suspension from duty imposed by the Ministry of Justice. The trial panel for the lawsuit seeking cancellation of the suspension from duty plans to observe the first trial judgment of the disciplinary action cancellation lawsuit before making its ruling.

Regardless of the outcomes of the two administrative lawsuits, they will not affect Yoon’s eligibility to run for office. However, many view the lawsuit results as a gauge to determine whether Yoon rightfully received exclusion from duty and disciplinary action for violating political neutrality and abusing authority, or whether, as he claims, it was an unjust measure by the current administration.

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