Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho Requests Disciplinary Action Against Two Prosecutors Involved in Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Mass Walkout

Minister of Justice Jung Sung-ho has requested disciplinary action against prosecutors involved in the "mass walkout at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office."

The Ministry of Justice announced via a media notice today (the 14th) that, regarding the incident where prosecutors attending the preparatory hearing for the trial on perjury allegations surrounding the "drinking party suspicion" involving former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young filed a motion to recuse the presiding judges and collectively walked out of the courtroom, the Minister of Justice has directly requested disciplinary action against two prosecutors.

The Ministry of Justice explained, "As a result of direct inspections conducted by the Ministry in accordance with relevant regulations, out of four prosecutors for whom the Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee recognized misconduct and proposed disciplinary action, two prosecutors who had already submitted their resignations were given warnings by the Minister of Justice considering that they were subject to dismissal from office, while disciplinary action was requested for the other two prosecutors."

It added, "Disciplinary procedures under the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act, such as deliberations by the Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee, will continue to proceed for the prosecutors for whom disciplinary action has been requested," and stated, "We plan to instruct the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to formulate measures to prevent recurrence in the future."

Previously, on November 25 of last year, four prosecutors from the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office walked out en masse after stating their intention to file a motion to recuse the bench, declaring that they "cannot comply with unfair trial conduct," when the prosecution's request to call witnesses was dismissed during the preparatory hearing for charges including violations of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal Before the National Assembly against former Vice Governor Lee, held before Criminal Settlement Division 11 of the Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Song Byung-hoon).

In response, President Lee Jae-myung expressed concern and regret the next day, the 26th, and ordered a strict inspection and investigation.

Subsequently, inspections were conducted by the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office under Minister Jung's instructions.

Although the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee held a closed-door meeting in April and concluded that it was difficult to discipline the prosecutors concerned, the Ministry of Justice requested disciplinary action against the prosecutors after conducting a separate inspection.

With the amendment of the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act last year, not only the Prosecutor General but also the Minister of Justice is now empowered to request disciplinary action against prosecutors.

The final level of disciplinary action will be decided by the Ministry of Justice Prosecutor Disciplinary Committee, chaired by the Minister of Justice.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.