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The legal teams for Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (left) and the Ministry of Justice at the Seoul Administration Court on Dec. 22. (Yonhap News)

A South Korean court will hold another hearing on Dec. 24 to decide whether to grant Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl an injunction for his two-month suspension. The court took the unusual step of extending its review of Yoon’s petition for an injunction given the seriousness of the case.

Judge Hong Sun-uk of the Seoul Administrative Court told attorneys representing the Ministry of Justice and Yoon at 2 pm on Dec. 22 that the injunction proceedings would continue on Dec. 24.

During the hearing, which was conducted in camera on Dec. 22, the two legal teams each had 30 minutes to present their arguments, while the court spent two hours and 15 minutes questioning the two sides.

Noting that more time was needed for questions, the court scheduled the next hearing for 3 pm on Dec. 24 and sent a list of questions to the two legal teams.

“Since most of the records [related to the disciplinary proceedings] have been disclosed, the court apparently wants those matters to be explained further. We’ll work hard to satisfy the court’s curiosity and keep trying to persuade it [of our arguments],” said Son Gyeong-sik, Yoon’s attorney, following the hearing on Dec. 22.

“The court seems intent on trying this case in great detail, which is probably why it has so many questions. We’ll have to make our preparations with a view to the main case that will also be tried by this court,” said Lee Ok-hyeon, an attorney for the Ministry of Justice.

Yoon’s legal team also emphasized that Yoon’s objection to the disciplinary measures does not represent opposition to President Moon Jae-in himself or to his goal of prosecutorial reform.

“On no occasion has Yoon expressed his opposition to prosecutorial reform, and the prosecutors are currently canvassing opinions and making preparations for the prosecutorial reform and the adjustment of investigative authority that the government has been pursuing,” said Lee Seok-ung, one of Yoon’s attorneys.

“I would like to state that this legal battle is designed to repair the reputation of the prosecutor general, who has been stigmatized as a law breaker. We’re not fighting against the president, who holds authority over appointments, nor do we have any intention of disregarding or denigrating the president’s authority in that area.”

By Bae Ji-hyun and Jang Ye-ji, staff reporters

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