COURT TO ISSUE VERDICT ON YOON’S LAWSUIT

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A Seoul court is to issue a verdict on the prosecutor general's lawsuit to withdraw his suspension. Some prosecutors are also calling for the withdrawal.

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If the court accepts Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl's petition, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's order to suspend him will be halted and Yoon will return to his post immediately. If his petition is rejected or dismissed, Yoon's suspension will continue. The court's verdict will serve as the first judgment on the ongoing conflict between the justice minister and the prosecutor general. It may also affect the decision of the Justice Ministry's disciplinary committee expected on December 2. The justice minister hopes the committee will decide to take stern disciplinary action against Yoon. But this largely depends on the court ruling. Another important factor is the meeting of the Justice Ministry's inspection committee slated for December 1. Although its decision is not legally binding, it can influence public opinion. Some prosecutors are also calling for the withdrawal of Yoon's suspension. Acting prosecutor-general Cho Nam-kwan has posted a message asking the justice minister to withdraw Yoon's suspension for the sake of justice in the prosecutorial reform. Prosecutors from the Busan District Prosecutors' Office also chimed in, saying that the justice minister's decision is unlawful. They were the last to join a statement issued by prosecutors nationwide against the justice minister's decision.