Choo, 'Prosecutor·Media Collusion' Under Investigation... Turbulent Inspection Bureau

Attorney General Ma Gwang-yeol Abruptly Resigns
'Code Appointment' Controversy Surrounding Position
Allegations of Ministry of Justice Resignation Pressure
Baseless Speculations Rampant in Legal Circles
Integrity of Inspection Bureau's Independence and Neutrality Tarnished

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae hinted at the possibility of an internal investigation regarding the alleged collusion between the prosecution and the media, but questions have arisen about whether such an investigation is actually feasible. This is due to the unsettled atmosphere within the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Bureau following the sudden resignation of the Inspection Officer who oversees investigative affairs.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, Ma Gwang-yeol, the Ministry of Justice Inspection Officer, recently abruptly submitted his resignation before completing even half of his two-year term. It is known that Ma did not clearly state the reasons for leaving the Ministry of Justice. Baseless speculations have been rampant within the legal circles, fueling controversy. Some suspect that, just as the Ministry of Justice pressured former Inspection Officer Jang In-jong to resign voluntarily, Ma may have also been coerced into stepping down.

Former Inspection Officer Jang resigned in April 2018, during the Park Geun-hye administration, with one year left in his term. Since then, the Ministry of Justice was unable to fill the position for a year. After issuing three public notices, attempts to appoint specific candidates sparked controversy over 'code appointments.' A legal community insider commented, "As Inspection Officers have consecutively failed to secure their terms, trust has significantly declined," and predicted, "There is a possibility that the 'code appointment' controversy within the Ministry of Justice may resurface." With the declining trust in the Ministry of Justice's Inspection Bureau and the absence of an Inspection Officer, Minister Choo's plan to uncover the truth behind the 'prosecution-media collusion' allegations may not proceed as intended.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Justice announced a public recruitment for the Inspection Officer position. Applications will be accepted until the 16th, followed by examinations and appointment procedures scheduled for May to June, with a new Inspection Officer expected to be appointed thereafter. Consequently, the Inspection Bureau, which employs 18 personnel including the Inspection Officer and inspection staff, is expected to have all positions filled only after June. Due to the consecutive resignations of Inspection Officers and doubts about term security, there may be a limited number of applicants.

Minister Choo appeared on a radio program the previous day and referred to reports alleging collusion between a sitting chief prosecutor and a Channel A reporter concerning the investigation into Shinrajen, a bio company accused of insider trading. She stated, "There is a recording and the details are quite specific, so I believe this is not an issue that can be overlooked," adding, "If we first receive a report on the facts and reach a stage where reasonable suspicion cannot be excluded, it is necessary to conduct investigations through internal inspections or other methods." This has drawn attention to whether the Ministry of Justice will initiate an internal investigation.

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