Chief prosecutor refuses to attend parliamentary hearing on Yoon's impeachment petition
Prosecutor General Lee One-seok speaks to reporters on his way to work at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho District, Seoul, July 23. Yonhap
Prosecutor General Lee One-seok has notified the National Assembly of his intention not to comply with a parliamentary request for his attendance in this week's hearing on a petition calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, his office said Tuesday.
The parliamentary judiciary committee is scheduled to hold the hearing Friday to review the petition urging the National Assembly to propose an impeachment motion against Yoon over alleged meddling in the military inquiry into the on-duty death of a Marine conscript last year and other reasons.
In a press release, Lee said he has submitted a letter explaining his decision not to attend the hearing, noting that his parliamentary testimonies as prosecutor general could influence ongoing investigations and compromise the political neutrality of the prosecution service.
"Demanding that the prosecutor general attend a hearing on a petition for the president's impeachment and testify about ongoing investigations amounts to infringing upon the foundation for the rule of law," Lee said in the release.
Such testimonies could unfairly influence investigations and trials, thereby compromising the functions and political impartiality of the prosecution service, he added. (Yonhap)