Minister Yoon Ho-jung: "Inspection of Lim Eun-jeong likely to begin immediately ... official directive just issued"

[Financial News] Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung said on the 12th, "I ordered the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency to inspect Lim Eun-jeong, chief of the Gwangju Regional Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, over her recent words and actions," adding, "I just issued the official directive and am on my way out."
Yoon met with reporters that day at the Government Complex Sejong and, explaining the reason for the inspection order, said, "I ordered the inspection because she appeared to have engaged in conduct inappropriate for a senior official at the Gwangju Regional Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, a regional branch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency."
He noted, "It is entirely permissible to express personal opinions on the president’s authority to appoint officials and on procedures being carried out under the Constitution and the law," but asked, "Is this an attempt to exert influence by using her position as chief of the Gwangju Regional Serious Crimes Investigation Agency?"
He also cited as a reason for the inspection order that Lim’s remarks were personal opinions she had held for some time, rather than views related to the duties she currently performs.
Yoon also stressed that this case was different from Lim’s past whistleblowing activities. He explained, "It has absolutely nothing to do with the actions she took in the prosecution service in the past as a so-called whistleblower, as some have said. I ordered the inspection because her conduct appeared unbecoming of a head of a regional Serious Crimes Investigation Agency."
The inspection is expected to examine, among other things, whether Lim attempted to exert improper influence by using her position as a senior official. However, Yoon did not specify any particular grounds for disciplinary action, such as a breach of the duty to maintain dignity or political neutrality under the State Public Officials Act.
A Ministry of the Interior and Safety official said, "After confirming the facts through the inspection, we plan to determine whether relevant laws, including the State Public Officials Act, have been violated."

[email protected] Lee Bo-mi Reporter