Free Web NovelYoon Hyungmin, in the 1970s, introduced the concept of American-style legal services to Korea while still in his twenties.
Though he brought in the U.S. system, he modified it to suit Korea’s reality and successfully adapted it to the market.
Within ten years, he had turned Yoon & Jang into Korea’s top law firm. Today, it ranked among the top three in Asia and was the one law firm prosecutors and domestic firms least wanted to go up against.
“Chief Ha, am I mistaken about something?”
“No, you’re not. Mr. Kim Muhyuk’s charges are so clear that we’re conducting the investigation here.”
“Really? And what charges would those be?”
When Yoon Hyungmin asked, the division chief couldn’t answer immediately.
Yoon shook his head, as if he’d expected that.
“If they’re that clear and obvious, you should’ve applied for an arrest warrant. You brought him here under voluntary accompaniment. Are you still stuck in the military dictatorship era?”
“Let’s stop this, Representative Yoon.”
The answer came from behind Yoon Hyungmin.
It was Bae Beomgyu, the Chief of the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office.
“Chief Bae, it’s been a while. I heard you were appointed Seoul District Chief, but it’s our first time meeting like this.”
“Seeing the famously immovable Representative Yoon come in person makes me think we’ve caught the right guy.”
“He’s one of the few friends my son has. I plan to handle this properly.”
Yoon Jaeha, who had been whispering to me earlier, stood up and bowed. freeweɓnøvel.com
“Chief Prosecutor Bae Beomgyu, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Yoon Jaeha. Please take care of me.”
“You must be Representative Yoon’s son. Nice to meet you.”
Bae gave Yoon Jaeha a polite smile, then turned back to Yoon Hyungmin.
“Representative Yoon, let’s go to my office. There seem to be plenty of other lawyers here.”
Yoon Hyungmin looked at me and Yoon Jaeha.
“Yoon, can you handle things here?”
“Yes, Representative.”
Smiling with satisfaction at Yoon Jaeha’s answer, Yoon Hyungmin left with Chief Bae.
The group of lawyers who had poured into the room left with them, and the once-chaotic interrogation room became quiet again.
“Why make things harder for yourself? You should’ve refused the voluntary accompaniment. You know this was the prosecution’s scripted scenario.”
Yoon Jaeha whispered, worry in his voice.
“It’s fine. I haven’t committed any crime, so what’s there to worry about?”
Shaking his head at my response, Yoon Jaeha turned back to the division chief.
“Prosecutor, let’s begin. You know anything said without a lawyer present has no legal effect, right? And even if it did, Yoon & Jang can easily render it worthless.”
The chief prosecutor’s face hardened at being talked down to by someone from a far junior class, but since Yoon Jaeha was Yoon Hyungmin’s son, he didn’t dare speak out.
Yoon Jaeha pressed on.
“What exactly are the charges against Kim Muhyuk?”
“Organized crime, solicitation of murder, violations of the Foreign Exchange Control Act, and intimidation.”
Organized crime?
That was bolder than I expected.
Even Yoon Jaeha seemed taken aback, staring at the chief prosecutor in disbelief.
The chief added stiffly:
“The prosecution believes you’re financially backing Park Dongsu, the head of the Dongsu faction, which unified multiple gangs, and instigated conflicts with other groups like the Baekho faction.”
“Let’s hear it then. I hope you have solid evidence to justify bringing up organized crime charges.”
Yoon Jaeha was applying pressure, looking nothing like the playful friend I knew from our gatherings.
“Testimonies state you ordered the murders of Shin Seongil and Moon Taebeom, and instructed that Baekho’s mid-level boss, Oh Gilseok, be crippled.”
Yoon Jaeha glanced at me.
I shook my head.
“My client denies everything. Do you have evidence?”
“Oh Gilseok testified. During the Myeongdong brawl, he fought the Dongsu faction to prevent Shin Seongil’s kidnapping. He claimed that afterward, Shin Seongil, Moon Taebeom, and he were all taken to an abandoned factory where they met you. Baekho’s boss, Baek Jeonggi, currently in prison, gave matching testimony.”
At the mention of Baekho’s testimony, I finally spoke.
“I met Shin Seongil a few times, yes. But I’ve never even heard the other two names.”
I had already anticipated this might happen when I spared Oh Gilseok.
But such testimony alone could never pin anything on me.
“I don’t even know who these people are, and I can’t imagine why they’d point to me.”
“Myeongdong is under Chairman Cheon Taesan’s influence. There’s no reason for the Baekho {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} and Dongsu factions to clash there unless ordered. I find the testimonies credible.”
Yoon Jaeha retorted.
“Do you have hard evidence? Relying solely on gangsters’ and prisoners’ testimonies to press organized crime and murder solicitation charges is a huge leap.”
If they had evidence, they wouldn’t have brought me in under voluntary accompaniment.
As expected, the plan was to arrest me under emergency measures, use the press to trap me, and then rush to get a warrant.
The chief prosecutor, unable to answer right away, was further pressured by Yoon Jaeha.
“So you’re admitting you pressured our client here based solely on gangster testimony, without evidence?”
The chief tried to recover.
“We have clear evidence for the foreign exchange violation. We caught traces of illegal overseas remittances.”
He pushed a stack of documents toward Yoon Jaeha.
While Yoon Jaeha reviewed them, the chief turned back to me, trying to get a response.
“Two loan sharks under Chairman Cheon Taesan disappeared after you appeared. Coincidence?”
But I said nothing as Yoon Jaeha checked the documents.
Finally, Yoon Jaeha closed the file.
“We acknowledge the foreign exchange violation. But it’s a matter handled with fines. Nothing more.”
“That’s for us to determine.”
“No, that’s for the court to determine. And frankly, there’s no reason to keep him here any longer, is there?”
“...”
They must have already applied for a warrant with the court.
The chief looked uneasy.
“We still have four hours left.”
“It’s voluntary accompaniment. Six hours is the maximum, and we can leave whenever we wish. We’ve cooperated plenty, and there’s no evidence for anything besides the foreign exchange violation. There’s nothing to contest here.”
The chief opened his mouth to argue when noise erupted outside.
The interrogation room door flew open.
“Prosecutor General!”
The chief jumped up, bowing deeply.
No matter the faction, no one could ignore Prosecutor General Yoon.
“Ha Seokjin, long time no see. When did you get back from Gwangju?”
“I was transferred recently.”
“Good. Do your best and don’t end up exiled back to the provinces.”
The chief kept his head bowed, his face unseen, though surely twisted.
“Prosecutor General, it’s an honor. I’m Yoon Jaeha.”
“You must be Representative Yoon’s son.”
“Yes, I’m also a Korea National University Law graduate. Nice to meet you, senior.”
“Haha, you’re from KNU too? Looks like everyone here is one of ours.”
Behind him, the heavyweights of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office followed, including Oh Hyunwoo.
“Yoon & Jang is handling this case?”
“Yes, the Representative is meeting with the Chief Prosecutor as we speak.”
“Representative Yoon himself? Haha.”
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, becoming jovial—as if the prosecutors weren’t even there.
“I heard our junior got summoned to the Seoul office. The KNU alumni all insisted on coming to check in. First time meeting, right?”
“Yes, Prosecutor General.”
The prosecutors lined up behind answered in unison. The chief remained silent, clearly intimidated.
In the prosecution, Seoul KNU alumni were royalty; KNU alumni were nobles; graduates of other schools were commoners.
The prosecution was thoroughly dominated by KNU.
“Introduce yourselves.”
“Hello, seniors. I’m Yoon Jaeha.”
“Nice to meet you, junior.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you, seniors. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
“So you’re Kim Muhyuk. I’ve heard plenty from the Prosecutor General. Let’s have a drink sometime. KNU alumni are always welcome.”
The interrogation room now felt like a KNU alumni gathering, with even passing prosecutors peeking in.
“Chief Ha, what exactly did you bring our junior here for? There’s no procedural issue, right?”
“Yes, Prosecutor General. We requested voluntary accompaniment, and Mr. Kim Muhyuk agreed.”
“Good. The prosecution needs to change. We can’t investigate recklessly like in the past. We must obey the law ourselves. Don’t you agree?”
“Of course.”
“The Chief Prosecutor and Representative Yoon are together, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll head there. Juniors, I’ll see you next time.” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
After the storm swept through, the interrogation room went quiet again.
The chief finally raised his head, his face twisted with anger.
“Then may we leave now?”
“Wait a moment.”
He hurriedly grabbed his phone, trying to call someone, but frowned when no one answered.
Watching him, I said:
“The court won’t issue a warrant.”
“What?”
“If you’re waiting for a warrant, I’m telling you now—it won’t come.”
He glared at me.
“The scenario is obvious. I understand you want to pin something on me, but it’s too weak. Are you really going to detain an innocent man without evidence?”
“Innocent? You’re calling yourself that?”
“I came voluntarily because I’m innocent.”
The chief, now dropping honorifics, was grinding his teeth when the door opened again.
“Who now!”
His composure finally cracked.
The man entering bowed nervously.
“Sorry, Chief.”
“What is it?”
“Um...”
The man whispered something in his ear.
“What? Is that true?”
“Yes, we just got word it was rejected unusually fast.”
It must have been a call from someone at the court.
“We’ll be leaving now. Let’s go, Muhyuk.”
I stood at Yoon Jaeha’s words.
“Wait. Who said you could leave? We still have emergency arrest.”
“If you can’t get a detention warrant within 48 hours, don’t even mention emergency arrest. We won’t sit still.”
Standing, Yoon Jaeha glared down at him.
“Attorney Yoon, don’t act cocky just because of your father. I’m still your senior.”
“Oh? Did you graduate from KNU? You should’ve said so earlier. My apologies.”
“What?”
“You called yourself my senior, didn’t you?”
Feigning innocence, Yoon Jaeha grinned.
The chief’s fist clenched on the table.
“Aren’t you?”
“...Stop it. No, I’m not from KNU.”
“Oh, then why call yourself my senior? I’m not even a prosecutor.”
Yoon Jaeha mocked him openly.
The chief’s face flushed red.
“Under Article 200(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act, as of 3:30 PM, you are under emergency arrest for murder solicitation and violating the Foreign Exchange Control Act. You have the right to an attorney and the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.”
“Murder solicitation has no evidence, and the foreign exchange violation doesn’t meet emergency arrest requirements.”
“That’s for the prosecution to decide, Attorney Yoon.”
Losing control, he became forceful.
He then barked at me:
“Sit down. From now on, you’re no longer a witness, but a suspect.”
“We responded to voluntary accompaniment. Emergency arrest is unacceptable!”
Yoon Jaeha’s voice rose as the chief kept pushing.
“File objections all you want.”
Even if we did, I’d still be stuck for 48 hours.
Emergency arrest would give them the right to search my home and office without a warrant for 24 hours. They’d clearly try anything to fabricate evidence in that time.
‘Emergency arrest... what reason do they have to take such a reckless step, even at the risk of giving Prosecutor General Yoon ammunition?’
“Hand over all belongings, including your phone.”
“Chief Ha!”
Yoon Jaeha shouted, his face red, but the chief was unmoved.
“There’s nothing wrong with procedure. Empty your pockets and sit.”
Just then, the chief’s phone rang.
“Yes. Yes, one moment.”
After a brief conversation, he glanced at us, then stepped outside.
Yoon Jaeha raked his hair back with a sigh.
“If you get emergency arrested, you’ll be stuck for 48 hours no matter what. Is there anything in your belongings that could cause trouble?”
I slowly shook my head, thinking.
‘Should I pressure the president through Han Kyungyeong?’
But my thoughts ended with the chief’s return.
“Ha... damn it. You can leave.”
< The Prosecution’s Overreach. > End
