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Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (left) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. (Yonhap News)

On Nov. 24, South Korean Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae ordered the suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and asked for disciplinary measures to be taken against him.

On the same day, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Yoon’s mother-in-law, without detention, on charges of fraud and violating the Medical Service Act. She’s accused of setting up an illegal medical foundation and receiving government subsidies under false pretenses.

Despite facing pressure on all sides, Yoon promised to fight his suspension, which he describes as “unfair and illegal,” by asking the court for an injunction.

“As the justice minister, I have decided that Prosecutor General [Yoon Seok-youl] is no longer capable of performing his duties. I have ordered his suspension and requested disciplinary action against him,” Choo said during an emergency press conference at the press room of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office at 6:05 pm on Tuesday.

This is the first time under Korea’s current constitution that a sitting prosecutor general has been suspended.

Yoon cited the following five issues as grounds for suspending Yoon: an inappropriate meeting with the leader of a media organization, surveillance of judges handling cases involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, unethical ties with the media and interference in an audit into violations of the Political Funding Act by former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, obstruction of an audit and refusal to cooperate with an interview for that audit, and undermining of the prosecutors’ political neutrality.

According to Choo, Yoon violated the prosecutors’ code of ethics by holding an inappropriate meeting with Hong Seok-hyun, former chairman of cable channel JTBC, in November 2018, while Yoon was head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. Hong was a key figure in a defamation case concerning claims that explosive evidence in the influence-peddling scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye on a tablet PC had been doctored.

Choo also explained that Yoon had violated his duties by collecting and exploiting information about judges’ ideological orientation and other private information. After the investigation and intelligence policy team at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office submitted reports in February 2020 about judges trying the Cho Kuk case and a separate case involving interference in the Ulsan mayoral elections, Yoon had the reports forwarded to the anti-corruption and violent crime department.

Choo also said that Yoon had violated his duty to maintain political neutrality by making what could be construed as a declaration of his intention to enter politics after leaving his post during the parliamentary audit of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office on Oct. 22.

Another reason for Yoon’s suspension was his recent obstruction of an audit by the Ministry of Justice; Yoon refused to allow auditors to interview him. “We will also be getting to the bottom of other instances of alleged illegality that aren’t included in the charges [provided as grounds for] the requested disciplinary action. I deeply regret that the Korean public has been upset by our failure to prevent the prosecutor general’s illegal activity and take quicker action,” Choo said.

Following the announcement of his suspension on Tuesday, Yoon strongly protested the decision. “I have fulfilled my responsibilities as prosecutor general without anything to be ashamed of while striving to defend the political neutrality of the prosecutors. I will take all available legal measures to block unfair and illegal actions.”

Yoon will reportedly ask the court for an injunction to block his suspension from going into effect.

By Bae Ji-hyun, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]