‘Yoon Seok-bang Directive’ Shim Woo-jung: “Followed Legal Procedures, Not Grounds for Impeachment”

On Responsibility of the CIO:
"It Is Not Appropriate to Comment on Other Institutions"

On the 17th, as the prosecution investigating the suspicion of Kim Geon-hee's involvement in stock manipulation of Deutsch Motors is about to announce the results, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung is arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung explained that the reason for not filing an immediate appeal against the cancellation of President Yoon Seok-yeol's detention was “a principled decision based on adherence to due process.” Regarding the responsibility of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), he refrained from commenting, saying, “It is not appropriate to speak about other institutions.”

On the morning of the 10th, as he arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Prosecutor General Shim told reporters, “We made the decision after considering various opinions from the investigation team and the meeting of the heads of departments at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office,” adding, “I do not believe this constitutes grounds for resignation or impeachment. Since impeachment is the prerogative of the National Assembly, if the procedure proceeds, we will respond accordingly.”

Prosecutor General Shim stated that since the authority to detain lies with the court, and considering that the immediate appeal system against suspension of detention or bail was declared unconstitutional as a remnant of the past military regime, he directed the release. However, he noted, “The method of calculating the detention period has long been established as a practical custom between the courts and the prosecution,” and added, “(The court’s ruling) does not align with the existing practical customs, so it is difficult to agree, and I have instructed the investigation team to contest this issue in the main trial.”

Earlier, on the 7th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Gwi-yeon) canceled President Yoon’s detention. The reason was that the prosecution’s method of calculating the detention period according to existing practical customs did not conform to the principles of the Criminal Procedure Act, resulting in President Yoon being unlawfully detained at the time of indictment.

The prosecution decided to forgo an immediate appeal after 27 hours of deliberation and released President Yoon. During this process, differences of opinion between the Special Investigation Headquarters, which advocated for an immediate appeal, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office were exposed.

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