Hong Joonpyo: "Yoon Sukyeol and Han Donghoon Led the Abolition of the 70-Year-Old Supreme Prosecutors' Office"

Hong: "Political prosecutors led to the abolition of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office after 70 years"
"The prosecution is a statutory, not constitutional, institution; not unconstitutional"
Prosecutors' Alumni Association protests, citing the '1948 Constitution'

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo directly criticized former President Yoon Sukyeol and former Representative Han Donghoon, stating that they "drove the 70-year-old Supreme Prosecutors' Office to abolition."

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo. Screenshot from YouTube TV Hongkacola

On September 8, Hong wrote on his social networking service (SNS), "It seems that the era of prosecutors, which has continued for over 70 years since liberation, is coming to an end." He added, "After liberation, the prosecution, led by the five-prosecutor system, was at the forefront of eradicating leftists and was central to fighting crime, but it became corrupted as it became entangled in politics."

He specifically targeted former President Yoon Sukyeol and former Representative Han Donghoon, who served during the Moon Jaein administration, saying, "They took the lead in the destruction of the conservative camp and acted as Moon Jaein's hunting dogs." He further criticized, "After reaching the peak of political prosecution, they jumped directly into politics, came to power, and left an indelible stain." He continued, "The harm they caused ultimately led to the abolition of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which has a history of over 70 years," adding, "I feel sorry for the junior prosecutors who considered this their calling."

Regarding the controversy over the constitutionality of abolishing the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Hong stated, "The prosecution is a statutory institution, not a constitutional one, so it is not unconstitutional." He added, "Changing its name to the Public Prosecution Office also does not violate the constitution."

In contrast, retired prosecutors strongly objected to the amendment of the Government Organization Act. The Prosecutors' Alumni Association issued a statement on this day, saying, "We apologize to the public for the prosecution's credibility falling to rock bottom and facing the risk of dissolution," and added, "We fully recognize that the loss of political neutrality, criticism for being a servant of power, and becoming a target of reform are all due to the faults of our members."

However, they argued, "Reform must be carried out within the framework of the constitution," and insisted, "Simply abolishing the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as stipulated by the constitution, through an amendment to the Government Organization Act raises constitutional concerns." The association emphasized, "The Constitution of 1948, among countless positions, specifically designated the Prosecutor General as a subject for Cabinet deliberation," and added, "This confirms that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Prosecutor General are constitutional institutions, not mere administrative organizations."