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Prosecutor General visits the Daegu High Prosecutors’ Office and District Prosecutors’ Office Wednesday. (Yonhap News)

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl continued for a second straight day Wednesday making harsh statements about an effort by members of the ruling Democratic Party to establish a serious crimes investigation agency with the aim of separating investigation and indictment powers.

During a visit to Daegu that day, Yoon said the agency’s creation would “lead to rampant corruption and fly in the face of the spirit of the Constitution.”

Previously, the Blue House and Democratic Party had not responded directly to Yoon’s remarks. But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun took him to task for them, insisting that “if [Yoon] wants to state his beliefs, he should step down from his position.”

Coming from the figure in charge of the executive branch, Chung’s message read as a stern warning over Yoon’s public opinion campaign as a currently serving prosecutor general.

During a visit that afternoon to the Daegu High Prosecutors’ Office and District Prosecutors’ Office, Yoon declared that “completely stripping prosecutors of their investigation authority would lead to rampant corruption.”

It was a second straight day of heavy criticisms from Yoon over the Democratic Party’s plan to legislate the creation of a new investigation agency, after a press interview the day before in which he pledged to “put [his] job on the line to stop” it.

In his remarks Wednesday, Yoon also said, “Responding sternly to corruption in the areas of politics, the economy and society is intended to protect the public, and it’s a constitutional obligation of the state and government.”

“A response to corruption is only possible when there is an organic integration between the investigation as a preparation process for trial and the trial activity in the courtroom,” he insisted.

When asked about whether he planned to step down as prosecutor general or pursue a future career in politics, he avoided giving a direct answer.

“I can’t really speak about that right now,” he said.

Yoon hammered at the same message during a roundtable meeting, saying the abolition of the prosecutors’ investigation powers would “set back democracy and the rule of law.” He also made efforts to establish order within the prosecutors’ organization.

During his visit to the Daegu High Prosecutors’ Office that day, supporters gathered outside to chant his name. In front of the complex were dozens of floral arrangements bearing messages such as “Stay strong, our hero.”

The scene called to mind a visit by a leading presidential candidate, with Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin coming out in person to meet Yoon and hand him a bouquet of flowers.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. (Yonhap News)

While Yoon was continuing to voice his objections, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun spoke out the same day, insisting that “if [Yoon] really wants to state his beliefs, he should step down from his position and do so on the level.”

In a Facebook message, Chung wrote, “Prosecutor General Yoon should reflect on why the people of South Korea are so eager for prosecutorial reforms.”

“He is not going to be able to execute the prosecutorial reforms the public is demanding with his petty heroism and his insistence that only the prosecutors can uphold justice in the Republic of Korea,” he continued.

He went on to write, “As the Prime Minister in charge of the executive branch, I am extremely dismayed by Prosecutor General Yoon’s remarks and his incitement of the public.”

“A public official in the executive branch has an obligation to follow the chain of command and procedures,” he stressed.

“For him to say he would ‘put his job on the line’ is an irresponsible incitement of the public. I plan to watch the situation very closely,” he continued, adding, “I plan to think very hard about the role that I should perform as Prime Minister.”

The message read as a warning that Chung plans to take some form of action as prime minister if Yoon’s public objections continue.

Remarking on Yoon’s recent actions, a prominent Democratic Party lawmaker said, “I can understand Yoon Seok-youl’s objections as the person in charge of the prosecutors’ organization. But he can’t go about things the way he’s been doing.”

“When he does this sort of ‘media show’ of objections for days on end rather than officially stating his opinion, or when he visits the provinces to share his views like a stumping presidential candidate, that’s only going to upset the people who desire prosecutorial reform,” the lawmaker warned.

“It’s also something that will end up backfiring on the prosecutors’ organization,” they added.

By Ock Kee-won, staff reporter

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