Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee Concludes "Disciplining Suwon Prosecutors for Collective Exit Is Difficult"

by Woo Sooyoun

Published 21 Apr.2026 21:44(KST)

The Inspection Committee of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has determined that the prosecutors who requested the recusal of the judges and collectively left the courtroom during the preliminary hearing of the perjury case involving former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace, Lee Hwa-young, cannot be subject to disciplinary action.

According to the legal community on April 21, the Inspection Committee recently held a closed-door meeting and concluded that it would be difficult to discipline the prosecutors in question.

The Inspection Committee consists of no fewer than five and no more than nine members, including a chairperson and a vice chairperson. Among its members are external committee members appointed by the Prosecutor General.

Provided by Yonhap News

The committee reviews major inspection matters, including misconduct by prosecution office staff, and presents its findings to the Prosecutor General, recommending necessary actions.

Regardless of the committee's findings, the final decision on whether to file for disciplinary action rests with the Prosecutor General. If the Prosecutor General files for disciplinary action, the case is referred to the Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee and then decided and finalized by the disciplinary committee.

Previously, on November 25 last year, four prosecutors from the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office all left the courtroom after expressing their opinion to request the recusal of the judges during the preliminary hearing at the Suwon District Court's 11th Criminal Division (presided over by Chief Judge Song Byung-hoon) for Lee's case of violating the Act on Testimony, Appraisal, etc. at the National Assembly. This was after the court rejected the prosecution's request to call a witness, and the prosecutors stated, "We cannot comply with the unfair conduct of the proceedings."

In response, on November 26, President Lee Jaemyung expressed concern and regret, ordering a strict inspection and investigation. Subsequently, at the instruction of Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho, the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office conducted a related inspection.

At the time, Minister Jeong, speaking at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, commented, "It is very rare for prosecutors to request the recusal of judges," and stated, "It was problematic that they left the courtroom immediately." However, there was also internal backlash within the prosecution, with some claiming the inspection was excessive.