“Service to the people” This word seems to be Yoon Seok-yeol’s destiny today

On the morning of the 14th, the Minister of Justice, Chu Mi-ae (left), goes to the Ministry of Justice building of the Gwacheon Government Complex. On the morning of the same day, Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol addresses the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [연합뉴스]

The second deliberation of the Prosecutor and the Disciplinary Committee of the Ministry of Justice will take place at 10:30 am on the 15th at the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi Province. Four members of the disciplinary committee, including Han-Jung Jung, Dean of the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Faculty of Law (President, Vice Minister of Justice), Yong-gu Lee, Vice Minister of Justice, Shin Sung-shik, and the Professor Anjin of Chonnam National University Law School, will meet at the Ministry of Justice on the same day as the first deliberation on the 10th. The special attorneys for Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol, attorneys Lee Wan-kyu and Lee Seok-woong, they also attend the disciplinary committee.

The witnesses who were waiting in the government building for the first deliberation also meet. At that time, the questioning of witnesses did not take place because they focused on procedural discussions, such as the decision to evade the disciplinary committee. The disciplinary committee also adopted the prosecutor Lee Jeong-hwa and the attorney general of the Ministry of Justice Sim Jae-cheol, as witnesses during the first deliberation. In this day’s disciplinary committee, four people, including prosecutor Ryu-hyuk, prosecutor of the Ministry of Justice, Park Young-jin, chief prosecutor of the Ulsan District Prosecutor’s Office (former chief prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, First Criminal Division), Sohn Jun-seong, Chief Prosecutor, and Prosecutor Lee Jeong-hwa, represent President Yoon.

On the other hand, four people, including Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-soo, Seoul Central District Attorney General Lee Seong-yoon, Gwangju District Attorney General Jin-woong Jeong, and Chief Prosecutor Shim Jae-cheol, could argue in favor of the Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae. Witnesses from the disciplinary committee are not required to attend, so there is a possibility that Dongsoo Han, prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon, and deputy prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong may not show up that day.

Until the day before, President Yoon’s side raised issues about the new appointment of the chairman of the disciplinary committee Jeong Han-jung and the formation of a preliminary member of the disciplinary committee and lobbied the disciplinary committee. On the same day, President Yoon submitted an opinion to the Ministry of Justice saying, “Please complete the preliminary members during the second deliberation and make the disciplinary committee composed of 7 members.” President Yoon argues that it is illegal to have a disciplinary committee without appointing a preliminary member, but the Ministry of Justice is in a position that it is possible to deliberate whether there is a quorum even if it is not appointed.

It is also controversial that Jung Han-jung, the acting representative, took over as director of the supervised agency of the Ministry of Justice, the Government Justice Corporation. President Yoon maintains that Vice Minister Jung’s participation in the disciplinary committee is not suitable for the purpose of “appointing a private member to minimize the influence of the Ministry of Justice.”

There is also a controversy over the impartiality of the disciplinary commissioner, Shin Sung-sik. On that day, the prosecutor Han Dong-hoon was a reporter who confirmed the misinformation about the KBS Channel A incident and submitted an opinion to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office that identified Shin as Director. The reasons for the disciplinary complaint against General Yoon include the suspicion of interfering with the Channel A case investigation. A prosecutor said: “Individuals who are related to the grounds for disciplinary action under the Disciplinary Order for Public Officials they cannot vote. This applies to the Disciplinary Law for Public Officials, which is a special law. ”

Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol 6 reasons for exclusion. [연합뉴스]

Deputy Petty Officer Chung indicated that the third or more deliberations may continue with no final conclusions in the second deliberation, depending on the progress of the cross-examination of the witnesses. He said in an interview with the media that day, “After hearing the lawyer’s opinion after the witness test is over, I will try to finish it by consensus, but it can continue depending on the attendance of a specific witness or the time of testimony. “.

Among the six reasons for President Yoon’s disciplinary action, the most likely issue is suspicion of “damaging political neutrality.” Initially, controversy was expected due to the suspicion of the judge’s inspection, but after the decision not to express its position in the National Judges Delegation on the 7th, the arguments of both parties have calmed down.

Inside and outside the prosecution office, disciplinary members are expected to punish President Yoon for political neutrality that can be judged on his courage. At the disciplinary committee on the 10th, Jung Han-jung, an official from the disciplinary committee, asked Yoon’s lawyer, “Why don’t you state that you don’t do politics?” Chung’s question is in line with the statement made by Minister Choo Mi-ae in his inspection of state affairs in October: “I should have said, ‘I have no intention of doing politics.’

However, the acting prosecutor said, “Since the beginning of this year, President Yoon has repeatedly requested to remove his name from the public opinion polling company.” But, he argued, it is unfair to punish him by asking for a capsule for formal responses that were used at other staff hearings in the past. ”

In the legal profession, if President Yoon’s positions are admitted and disciplinary measures imposed, the head of law expects severe punishment, such as firing or firing. From President Yoon’s point of view, the term is until July next year, so it is no different from firing, even if it is suspended. Even if you keep your mandate honestly, you cannot perform your duties as president, so you become a “plant manager.” Previously, the Blue House revealed that if the disciplinary committee determines the level of disciplinary action under the Prosecutors’ Discipline Act, it is impossible for the president to reject the application or increase or decrease the level of disciplinary action, and the action is expected disciplinary action is carried out immediately.

Reporter Kim Minsang [email protected]