Moon names Yoon Seok-youl as prosecutor-general

Jun 18, 2019, 08:19 am

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Prosecutor-general nominee Yoon Seok-youl (Yonhap)

By AsiaToday reporter Lee Seok-jong

The chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Yoon Seok-youl, has been nominated to become the second prosecutor-general to serve in the Moon Jae-in’s administration.

President Moon Jae-in on Monday nominated Yoon as the new prosecutor general in accordance with Justice Minister Park Sang-ki’s recommendation, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung.

“While working as a prosecutor, Yoon fought against corruption and irregularities, and showed strength to withstand outside pressure,” said the spokesperson. “He has been particularly praised by prosecutors, as well as the public, for successfully pursuing high-profile corruption and abuse of power cases involving previous administrations based on his leadership and focus on reform.”

“We expect Yoon to root out various corruption and irregularities that still remain in society, and at the same time successfully carry out prosecution reforms,” Ko said.

Appointing Yoon as chief prosecutor indicates Moon’s strong will to overhaul the prosecution by defying its long-held tradition of seniority while pushing his initiative to eradicate “accumulated evils.”

“Yoon was nominated for his strong conviction to fight against corruption and his will to overhaul the prosecution,” the spokesperson said.

Yoon, 58, studied law at Seoul National University. After passing the national bar examination in 1991, he served as a prosecutor in the Central Investigation Unit of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Special Investigation Unit of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

The reform-minded veteran investigator served as the chief of a special unit investigating allegations that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) ran an online campaign to sway public opinion in favor of former President Park Geun-hye during the 2012 presidential election. He was demoted to a less important post after a conflict with the government. But in 2016, he took part in a Special Prosecution Team led by Park Young-soo to investigate the Choi Soon-sil scandal and arrested former President Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil, and Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong.

Shortly after Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017, Yoon was promoted to head the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. He took lead of investigating former President Lee Myung-bak and former Supreme Court chief Yang Sung-tae, both of whom have been indicted on corruption charges.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet will pass a motion on Yoon’s nomination and send a request to the National Assembly that it hold a confirmation hearing for Yoon. The National Assembly needs to complete its confirmation hearing within 20 days from the date of submission of the appointment plan.

#Yoon Seok-youl #prosecutor-general #prosecution reform #Moon Jae-in