Court grants injunction against suspension of top prosecutor

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl resumed his duties Thursday after a court granted an injunction against his suspension by the justice minister amid their feud over prosecutorial reform and politically sensitive investigations

The decision by the Seoul Administrative Court amounts to a setback for Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, who has been at odds with Yoon for months.

On Dec. 16, the ministry suspended Yoon from duty for two months after a disciplinary committee found him liable on four counts of alleged misconduct, including the surveillance of judges hearing the case of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, and those involving presidential officials' alleged abuse of power to sway the Ulsan mayoral election in 2018 to bring victory to one of President Moon Jae-in's longtime friends.

Yoon filed for the injunction Dec. 17, along with a separate administrative lawsuit against the punitive action, claiming that the formation of the disciplinary committee had procedural errors and the allegations against him were untrue.

He also argued the suspension, barring him from performing his duties, seriously undermined the political impartiality and independence of the prosecution, adding that major investigations, including a probe into the controversial closure of the country's Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor, could be dealt a major setback.

Arguing against Yoon's claims, the justice ministry stated the punitive measure, endorsed by the president, observed due procedural process and was imposed in accordance with the president's rights and responsibility under the Constitution.

Earlier in the day, the court convened a second hearing to review Yoon's injunction request, following the first that took place Tuesday.

Among the issues discussed at the hearing included whether the suspension caused "irreparable damage," how it affected the public interest and whether there were procedural flaws in the process leading up to the disciplinary measure.

Yoon's two-year term is scheduled to finish in July next year.

On Dec. 1, the same court granted a preliminary injunction to halt his temporary removal from duty ordered by Justice Minister Choo over her allegations of a series of misconducts by Yoon. The ministry, undeterred, proceeded with two disciplinary committee meetings to eventually discipline him. (Yonhap)