Prosecutor general nominee grilled over cronyism allegations

Prosecutor General nominee Lee One-seok answers questions during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap

By Lee Hae-rin

Prosecutor General nominee Lee One-seok denied allegations that he is close to President Yoon Suk-yeol ― himself a former prosecutor general ― and vowed to defend the prosecution's political neutrality and independence from the presidential office.

During his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Monday, the nominee said he has “no personal ties” with the president, stressing that when he worked with Yoon in the prosecution service their connection was purely work-related.

Lee also denied the allegations that he had called Yoon “hyeong-nim,” a Korean term meaning “brother,” when they met privately.

The nominee said, “I don't allow any other prosecutor to call me 'brother,' either,” explaining that he has never made or even thought of forming a private club or gathering with likeminded prosecutors throughout his 25-year career in the prosecution service.

Lee made the remarks when answering questions from Rep. Kim Nam-kuk of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Kim claimed that he received reports from many sources, which he did not specify, that said Lee and Yoon were close and that the former called the latter “brother.”

When he was nominated as the Yoon administration's first prosecutor general on Aug. 11, the nomination raised concerns over the nature and closeness of their relationship. DPK lawmakers have been raising questions as to whether a prosecutor general who is close to the president can lead politically sensitive investigations fairly without trying to curry favor with those who are in power, an allegation Lee denied.

Also, the nominee was questioned on how he plans to investigate first lady Kim Keon-hee's alleged involvement in stock-price manipulation of Deutsche Motors.

DPK lawmakers asked the nominee why the first lady refuses to respond to the prosecution's request for attendance and why the prosecutorial body hesitates to request an arrest warrant. The nominee withheld from answering the questions saying he “does not know the premises” to the issue and requested the National Assembly to legislate a law to guarantee a prosecutor general the right to lead the investigation.

When Yoon was prosecutor general in October 2020, then-Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae ordered to set aside the prosecutor general's right to command the investigation of the Deutsch Motors share prices manipulation case, in which Yoon's wife is allegedly involved.

Prosecutor General nominee Lee One-seok takes notes during his hearing with the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Lee was also grilled for his involvement in leaking information on high-profile investigations.

Lee faces the allegation that he shared information about the prosecution's plan to seek a warrant with the inspector general for judicial ethics in 2016. The nominee was investigating the judicial sector's corruption case as a chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at the time.

Rep. Kim criticized that the sharing of details and specific plans about an ongoing investigation, as the nominee has done, is unimaginable for a prosecutor. Under the code of conduct for prosecutors, it is customary for them to announce only the personal information of the accused and the brief facts of the case, the lawmaker said.

In response, the nominee admitted he went to the Judicial Research and Training Institute with the inspector but said he has no special personal connection with him. Instead, Lee explained that he had done his best as the case's chief prosecutor by arresting and charging 11 people, including an attorney who is his alumnus.

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) defended the nominee and denied that it was a “leakage of official secrets.” The lawmaker said the nominee could have shared necessary information with the inspector to manage the case to move along more smoothly.

Meanwhile, the nominee faced criticisms from the opposition party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for not submitting documents to verify his integrity, concerning his property ownership and children's military service and education. Rep. Kwon In-sook pointed out that the nominee did not consent to collecting his and his family's personal information in the submitted documents.

In response, Lee said it is difficult to turn in documents that prove his children never received scholarships or preferential treatment and that his family never made foreign exchange transactions or owned multiple homes or had membership to condominiums or golf clubs.

Following the dispute, PPP Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig proposed the committee members to specify the cause and allegation when requesting documents of nominees at future confirmation hearings.

Lee, the deputy chief prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, has been serving as an acting prosecutor general since Yoon's inauguration in May.