Opposition bloc slams Yoon's prosecution reshuffle

Prosecutor General Lee One-seok speaks to reporters on his way to work at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Opposition parties on Tuesday criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol’s reshuffle of prosecutors, accusing him of trying to hinder investigations into first lady Kim Keon Hee’s acceptance of a luxury handbag from a pastor and stock price manipulation.

On Monday, the Ministry of Justice announced a reshuffle of senior prosecutors, replacing those investigating the first lady’s alleged acceptance of a Dior bag valued at around 3 million won ($2,192) from a Korean American pastor named Choi Jae-young in September 2022 and involvement in stock price manipulation of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012.

Song Kyung-ho, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office who was in charge of the investigation into the first lady, was replaced by Lee Chang-soo, chief of the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office. Lee, who served as a spokesperson for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2020 when Yoon was the prosecutor general, is known to be a close aide to the president. Song was appointed as head of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office.

First Deputy Prosecutor Kim Chang-jin and Fourth Deputy Prosecutor Ko Hyung-gon, who had been involved in the investigation related to the first lady, were also replaced.

Rep. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The opposition bloc questioned the timing of the announcement given that the reshuffle came roughly 10 days after Prosecutor General Lee One-seok ordered the creation of an investigation team dedicated to the allegations involving the first lady and called for a swift and thorough investigation.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said it will push for a special counsel probe to stop the Yoon administration from intentionally obstructing the investigation.

“This is a signal that Yoon will tighten his grip on the prosecution and protect the first lady,” said Rep. Park Chan-dae, the DPK’s floor leader.

“The president’s actions show that he hasn’t changed at all after his party’s crushing defeat in the general elections last month. Whether in personnel shakeup or state affairs, Yoon seems to be leaning towards authoritarianism."

Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who also previously chaired the ruling People Power Party (PPP), said Yoon is likely heading down the path of impeachment.

“I really hoped Yoon wouldn’t follow in the footsteps of 2016 (when former President Park Geun-hye was impeached), but looking at this personnel shakeup, it looks like Yoon’s last struggle,” Lee said.

However, lawmakers of the PPP denied the claims that the replacements would affect ongoing investigations. “Personnel shakeups are made on a regular basis. The investigation into the first lady’s cases will proceed according to original plans,” Rep. Sung Il-jong of the PPP told SBS radio.

Meanwhile, top prosecutor Lee said the prosecution will continue to investigate cases involving the first lady according to principles.

“I trust our prosecutors and the investigation team. The personnel reshuffle is a personnel reshuffle, and the investigation is the investigation,” Lee said. “No matter who leads the investigations, I believe the prosecution will continue to investigate according to legal principles based on evidence without any other considerations.”