Special prosecutors seconded to the probe who appeared at former President Yoon Suk-yeol's sedition trial wore "black ties." Yoon's side said this was "to protest that the special prosecutor procedure and the abolition of the Prosecutors' Office, and the principle of separating investigation and indictment, are contradictory."
At the trial held that day before the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 (presiding judge Ji Gui-yeon), where the former president faces charges including leading sedition, Special Prosecutor Park Eok-su, Director General Prosecutor Lee Chan-gyu, and seven prosecutors seconded to the sedition special counsel appeared. Among them, except for Special Prosecutor Park and Director General Prosecutor Lee, the remaining prosecutors wore black suits and black ties.
Regarding this, the former president's attorney said, "At the 4th hearing as well, 10 prosecutors wore black ties, and the chance of this happening twice in a row is close to zero," adding, "I believe the seconded prosecutors, by wearing black ties signifying mourning, are protesting that the current procedure contradicts the principle of separating investigation and indictment, which is the reason for abolishing the Prosecutors' Office."
The attorney added, "If the provisions of the special law on sedition are contradictory and furthermore unconstitutional, then this special counsel lacks the legal basis to conduct investigation and maintain prosecution in this case, and all investigations up to now would be void."
In response, Special Prosecutor Park said, "Is that the kind of thing one can say in a courtroom? While claiming this law is unconstitutional, can one make arguments that are neither logical nor grounded in law?" He added, "I think it would be right for both sides to refrain from remarks that carry a political tone."
Earlier, on the 30th of last month, all prosecutors seconded to the Kim Keon-hee special counsel delivered a statement to the special counsel demanding "return to the prosecution." The same day, a revision to the Government Organization Act that abolishes the Prosecutors' Office on Oct. 2 next year was approved by the Cabinet meeting.
At the time, the seconded prosecutors said, "Recently, under the pretext of separating investigation and indictment, the Government Organization Act was revised and the Prosecutors' Office was dismantled," adding, "In contradiction to this, it is a confusing situation to determine whether it is truly right for seconded prosecutors to continue handling special counsel duties that combine direct investigation, indictment, and maintenance of prosecution."
Meanwhile, Park Ji-young, a special prosecutor with the sedition special counsel, at a media briefing that day, was asked by reporters, "Is it true that the seconded prosecutors wore black ties to the former President Yoon's sedition trial?" She said, "I thought it was a matter of personal preference, but I heard they all wore (black ties) the same," adding, "I have not been able to confirm this with the trial prosecutors. It is not appropriate to infer and speak about the prosecutors' intent."