Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae: "Prosecutors' Internal Opposition Misunderstood... Yoon Also Promised to Join"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae addressed the internal backlash within the prosecution regarding the reform push, calling it "a misunderstanding." She also emphasized that she received a commitment to participate from Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the 31st, at the 'Follow-up Measures for Power Institution Reform' briefing held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Minister Chu stated, "The prosecution is also accepting the passage of reform legislation in the National Assembly as the will of the people." She added that during their first meeting, Prosecutor General Yoon promised to join the reform efforts.

Recently, the Ministry of Justice has been leading the prosecution reform, showing a confrontational atmosphere with the prosecution. They have carried out two rounds of personnel reshuffles and implemented an organizational restructuring plan that reduces direct investigation departments. In response, some frontline prosecutors expressed opposition to the Blue House and Ministry of Justice's actions through various channels and methods, strengthening the analysis that internal resistance is significant. However, Minister Chu drew a line on this by saying, "That is not the case."

She further expressed her intention to continue pushing forward with prosecution reform as planned, aiming to protect human rights. She said, "This is the first time since liberation that power institution reform is being properly carried out. Immediately after liberation, it was a 'police state,' and under authoritarian governments, the 'prosecutorial fascism' led to a concentration of power so severe that human rights protection was neglected, and rather, collusion with power that violated human rights increased public concern. To reform this, we will gradually reduce the scope of direct investigations."

Additionally, she noted, "A distinctive feature of this prosecution personnel reshuffle is the dispatch of human rights supervisors to each frontline prosecution office. Going forward, prosecutors who protect human rights will be favored."

Regarding whether there is a legislative plan to completely abolish or prohibit the prosecution's investigative functions, she emphasized, "To prevent duplicate investigations through the principle of separating investigation and prosecution and to highlight the prosecution's role in monitoring human rights, the scope of direct investigations must be reduced, so ultimately separation is appropriate." She added, "(Legislative plans) require public consensus."

Concerning the formation of the task force for establishing the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, she explained, "Within the Ministry of Justice, the head of the Inspection Bureau will serve as the team leader, the general planning team leader will handle policy planning for the task force, and a prosecutor at the manager level along with team members will be assigned to oversee overall legislation. A manager-level prosecutor will be responsible for related legal amendments, and a prosecution manager will handle organizational restructuring."

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