Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office: "Choo's personnel appointments are shocking... Unfair appointments lead to the production of Political Prosecutor Season 2"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A senior prosecutor working at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office publicly expressed concerns about the personnel reshuffle carried out after the appointment of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, saying, "Unfair personnel moves such as targeting investigators involved in specific cases could produce a second season of political prosecutors and turn back the clock to make the prosecution servants of the regime again."

Jung Hee-do, head of the Inspection Division 2 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (age 54, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 31), posted a message on the internal prosecution network 'Eprose' around 9 a.m. on the 13th, addressed to Minister Choo.

He pointed out, "The personnel changes announced on the 8th were shocking," and added, "It seems like a personnel move aimed at targeting investigators involved in specific cases and turning the Prosecutor General into a figurehead." He continued, "According to media reports, mid-level personnel reshuffles are expected soon, and there is already much speculation about the first to fourth deputy chiefs of the Central District Prosecutors' Office," and emphasized, "If unfair personnel moves targeting investigators involved in specific cases are made again in those reshuffles, it can only be seen as fake prosecution reform that makes the prosecution loyal only to certain forces."

Jung urged, "I hope you will consider and promote 'real prosecution reform' so that the prosecution can become a true people's prosecution that exercises prosecutorial power solely based on law and principles."

Regarding Minister Choo's special directive requiring prior approval from the minister when forming special investigation teams, he expressed concern, saying, "If not handled carefully, it could be interpreted as an intention to prevent investigations disliked by the Minister of Justice or the current regime."

Jung proposed, "If you legislate prior approval for special investigation teams, please introduce safeguards to prevent abuse of the system," suggesting the establishment of a related review body and that disapproval should only be possible with the consent of two-thirds of that review body as a check and balance measure.

In response, Park Cheol-wan (age 48, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27), a prosecutor at the Changwon branch of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office, commented, "Direct involvement in specific cases blurs accountability for investigation results," and added, "It is desirable that the Minister of Justice's control over the prosecution be presented in the form of general principles."

Prosecutor Park pointed out, "The meaning of democratic control mentioned in the minister's inaugural speech is unclear," and said, "If it means that the Minister of Justice uses legally granted authority to enforce her views on the initiation, progress, and conclusion of investigations, please reconsider attaching the term 'democratic' to it."

Jung has served as deputy head of the Special Investigation Division for Corruption Crimes at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, head of the Special Division at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, and head of the Defense Industry Investigation Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, before being appointed head of Inspection Division 2 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in August last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.