The Democratic Party files complaint against Yoon Seok-yeol at the Corruption Investigation Office... Park Ju-min: "Abuse of power, investigation and inspection must proceed"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Geum Bo-ryeong] The Democratic Party of Korea has filed a complaint with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and others on charges of abuse of authority and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 18th, Kim Yong-min, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, Park Joo-min, head of the Task Force (TF) for the Investigation of Election Interference and National Order Disruption, Min Byung-duk, deputy head of the TF, and lawmakers Kim Nam-guk and Hwang Un-ha visited the Government Complex Gwacheon, where the PCC office is located, to submit a complaint against former Prosecutor General Yoon and Mr. A, who worked at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

In the complaint, the Democratic Party referred to a court ruling that upheld the two-month suspension disciplinary action against former Prosecutor General Yoon, stating, "It is judged that former Prosecutor General Yoon, together with a person who worked in the Investigation Information Policy Office of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office from February to April 2020, committed illegal acts such as abuse of authority under Article 123 of the Criminal Act and violation of Article 59 of the Personal Information Protection Act."

The Democratic Party explained the grounds for the complaint, saying, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon instructed to halt the inspection regarding the suspected collusion between his close associate Han Dong-hoon (Chief Prosecutor) and a Channel A reporter, and unilaterally ordered the notification of the convening of the Special Investigation Advisory Panel, thereby obstructing the inspection and investigation and interfering with the legitimate exercise of rights by the Inspection Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office."

They further claimed, "It has been revealed that by abusing his authority, former Prosecutor General Yoon ordered the officer in charge of the Investigation Information Policy Office of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to collect and report information unrelated to investigations or trials, such as judges' personal evaluations, personal information, family relations, and whether certain individuals graduated from specific universities, and to deliver such information to third parties, thereby violating the Personal Information Protection Act."

They added, "Despite being in positions that demand extreme fairness and integrity, the accused, including former Prosecutor General Yoon, abused their authority and used public power for personal purposes, breaking the public's trust in the fairness of national public authority, which is a grave offense," and emphasized, "We demand a thorough investigation."

Park Joo-min, who submitted the complaint on this day, stressed during the afternoon Judiciary Committee audit that investigations and inspections into former Prosecutor General Yoon's abuse of authority must proceed.

Park said, "As seen in the disciplinary ruling against former Prosecutor General Yoon last Thursday, the court's analysis states that he gave improper orders beyond the scope of his duties," adding, "Obstruction of inspection and the Channel A case are also improper orders beyond the scope of duties." Park emphasized, "This should not merely be grounds for disciplinary action but should lead to investigations and inspections of the related acts. Although a complaint has been filed with the PCC regarding some of the matters, I believe there are still parts that require inspection by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."

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