Prosecutors Launch Full Investigation into 'Verbal Abuse of Late Prosecutor Kim Hong-Young' Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has launched an investigation into a former chief prosecutor accused of habitual verbal abuse and physical assault against the late Prosecutor Kim Hong-young.

According to the legal community on the 24th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jung Jin-woong) summoned the Korea Bar Association (President Lee Chan-hee) on the 18th as a complainant for questioning.

This comes four months after the Bar Association filed a complaint with the prosecution on November 27 last year against former Chief Prosecutor Kim Dae-hyun (52, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 27), who was Kim's superior at the time, on charges of assault, coercion, and defamation.

During this investigation, the prosecution reportedly requested the Bar Association to specify the exact acts of assault and coercion committed by former Chief Prosecutor Kim.

Furthermore, the prosecution conveyed to the Bar Association that, in addition to the 17 grounds for dismissal of former Chief Prosecutor Kim recognized by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Division and the Supreme Court ruling, additional evidence of clear illegal acts is needed.

Based on this investigation, the prosecution plans to summon former Chief Prosecutor Kim soon as a suspect for questioning.

Former Chief Prosecutor Kim admitted, "In the process of teaching juniors and reprimanding mistakes, I may have used somewhat harsh expressions or actions," but maintained that he never engaged in cursing, verbal abuse, physical assault, or coercion.

Prosecutor Kim took his own life at the age of 33 in May 2016, leaving a suicide note expressing work-related stress and job pressure while working in the Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Division conducted a fact-finding investigation into Prosecutor Kim's death and found that former Chief Prosecutor Kim had habitually verbally abused and physically assaulted Prosecutor Kim and others for two years. Consequently, the Ministry of Justice dismissed former Chief Prosecutor Kim on August 29, 2016.

In response, former Chief Prosecutor Kim filed a lawsuit to cancel the dismissal in November 2016 but was finally defeated by the Supreme Court in March last year.

After fulfilling the condition of 'three years after dismissal' to open a law practice, former Chief Prosecutor Kim started practicing as a lawyer in December last year.

The Bar Association plans to first seek the prosecution's judgment on whether former Chief Prosecutor Kim's case falls under the category of refusal of lawyer registration due to criminal prosecution for illegal acts committed while serving as a public official under the Attorney-at-Law Act. If criminal prosecution such as indictment occurs, the Bar Association can submit the matter to the Registration Review Committee.

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