Ruling on Yoon Seok-yeol's Disciplinary Action Divides Parties... Ruling Party: "Legal" Opposition: "Daejang-dong Diversion"

Lee Jae-myung "Resignation from Candidacy, Suspension of Political Activities"
Yoon Camp "High Possibility of Political Judgment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The ruling and opposition parties each interpreted the court ruling that the disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol was justified in ways favorable to themselves. The ruling party acknowledged the legality of the ruling and even demanded that former Prosecutor General Yoon resign from his candidacy, while the opposition party claimed the ruling was unfair and called it a ‘Daejang-dong distraction’.

The ruling party holds the position that all three disciplinary reasons recognized by the court?the obstruction of the investigation and inspection related to the ‘Channel A incident,’ and the collection of personal information on judges?were lawful. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the Supreme Council meeting on the 15th, "Obstruction of inspection and investigation was recognized as guilty, and it was clearly stated that collecting judges’ personal information was illegal. Furthermore, political neutrality was also questioned." He emphasized the need for an apology from former Prosecutor General Yoon and actions from the opposition party.

Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province and the ruling party’s presidential candidate, also demanded on Facebook that former Prosecutor General Yoon resign from his candidacy and cease political activities, saying, "He has lost the qualification for political activity." After attending a Democratic Party members’ meeting, he told reporters, "The same standards must be applied to others’ work and my work. We should not have such double standards," adding, "I think it is time for him to acknowledge his own limits."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th and delivering a greeting./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7

On the other hand, former Prosecutor General Yoon’s side rejected the court’s decision, calling it a ‘political judgment.’ Following the announcement by Yoon’s legal team the previous day that they would appeal, Kim Byung-min, spokesperson for Yoon’s campaign, appeared on MBC Radio’s 'Kim Jong-bae’s Focus' and argued that none of the disciplinary reasons were lawful. Kim claimed, "It is much more likely to be a political judgment based on biased claims."

Yoon’s campaign also raised suspicions that the judiciary issued an unfavorable ruling against former Prosecutor General Yoon to help the ruling party deflect attention from the ‘Daejang-dong scandal.’ Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the National Assembly audit strategy meeting, "We cannot rule out the possibility," adding, "Since the circumstances under which former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae forcibly pushed the disciplinary action are clearly revealed, it is difficult to accept the ruling when viewed from the perspective of common sense."

Meanwhile, during the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s audit of the Seoul High Court, Seoul Central District Court, and others, it is expected that there will be focused questioning regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon’s first trial ruling and the allegations of fabricated prosecution requests.

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