Political neutrality, independence crucial for law enforcement
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's comments made at a welcome ceremony for new prosecutors is receiving both a political interpretation and spin. After many months of tension with Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Yoon is regarded as having spoken up amid mounting pressure for prosecutorial reform.
"The core value of liberal democracy is to shun dictatorships and totalitarianism in the appearance of democracy ... Liberal democracy can only be realized through the rule of law," Yoon said at the ceremony.
Notably, on the same day the justice minister called on the prosecutors not to abuse their power so as to regain public trust.
Yoon's comment may be an expression of not bowing to the increasing pressure for reform of the prosecution. The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) immediately welcomed his remarks. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) decried them and called on Yoon to resign.
When he was appointed by President Moon Jae-in last year, he was touted as a top reformist prosecutor. Yoon's headlong investigations involving officials affiliated with the Moon administration however has ruptured their relationship. The fact that the chief prosecutor once had the support of the DPK ― which rapidly faded once he investigated its members ― and is now buttressed by the opposition UFP, demonstrates the untenable plight of the prosecution. In such times it should not lose sight of its task.
The prosecution faces an array of challenges ahead ― the planned power-sharing with the police as part of prosecutorial reform, and the justice ministry's recent non-binding recommendation to deprive the prosecutor general of the power to directly command and supervise investigations among other things. These changes for reform are intended to ensure the political independence and neutrality of prosecutors as they do their job, not to politically rein them in. A series of investigations involving those close to the administration should not be deterred by pressure.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's comments made at a welcome ceremony for new prosecutors is receiving both a political interpretation and spin. After many months of tension with Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Yoon is regarded as having spoken up amid mounting pressure for prosecutorial reform.
"The core value of liberal democracy is to shun dictatorships and totalitarianism in the appearance of democracy ... Liberal democracy can only be realized through the rule of law," Yoon said at the ceremony.
Notably, on the same day the justice minister called on the prosecutors not to abuse their power so as to regain public trust.
Yoon's comment may be an expression of not bowing to the increasing pressure for reform of the prosecution. The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) immediately welcomed his remarks. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) decried them and called on Yoon to resign.
When he was appointed by President Moon Jae-in last year, he was touted as a top reformist prosecutor. Yoon's headlong investigations involving officials affiliated with the Moon administration however has ruptured their relationship. The fact that the chief prosecutor once had the support of the DPK ― which rapidly faded once he investigated its members ― and is now buttressed by the opposition UFP, demonstrates the untenable plight of the prosecution. In such times it should not lose sight of its task.
The prosecution faces an array of challenges ahead ― the planned power-sharing with the police as part of prosecutorial reform, and the justice ministry's recent non-binding recommendation to deprive the prosecutor general of the power to directly command and supervise investigations among other things. These changes for reform are intended to ensure the political independence and neutrality of prosecutors as they do their job, not to politically rein them in. A series of investigations involving those close to the administration should not be deterred by pressure.
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