Senior prosecutors protest minister’s order
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office began internal discussions, presided over by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, with senior prosecutors nationwide on how to respond to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s decision to invoke her authority to command the prosecution’s investigation into a collusion case, the office announced Friday.
The marathon meeting took place a day after Minister Choo ordered the top prosecutor to suspend the convening of an expert advisory panel to review an investigation into suspected collusion between a journalist and a prosecutor deemed close to Yoon.
Choo called on the investigation team in charge of the case at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office to carry out its probe independently without the intervention of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.
Choo said in her official letter sent to Yoon that the deliberation of the advisory panel could disrupt the team’s efforts to investigate the collusion allegations, saying, “The case is receiving a lot of public attention as it is related to criminal allegations against an incumbent prosecutor.”
According to insiders at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, a majority of the senior prosecutors believed the aim of Choo’s latest decision was to suppress Yoon.
Some senior prosecutors claimed Choo’s exercise of authority could disturb the entire prosecution.
The participants of the meeting also considered ways of offering Choo alternatives.
“We will clarify our position based on the results of today’s meeting,” an official from the Supreme Prosecutors’
Office said.
Choo’s invocation of her authority, apparently aimed at pressuring Yoon, came at a time when the tension between the two has deepened on various issues, including an old bribery case involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook.
The justice ministry made it clear that any alternatives, including changes to the investigation team, would not be an option, as “there is no objective justification or necessity.”
This is raising likelihood that the tension between Choo and Yoon will worsen.
Meanwhile, the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) criticized Choo and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea for their attempts to “suppress Yoon to force him out.”
Rep. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the UFP, said his party is planning to submit a motion to impeach the justice minister soon.