Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae: "Reasonable Improvement Needed for Prosecutor Service Evaluation System Not Recognized by Criminal Division"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae has expressed her intention to improve the service evaluation system as a measure to strengthen the criminal division within the prosecution, drawing attention to her future actions.

According to the legal community on the 15th, Minister Choo posted on her social media service (SNS) Facebook account the day before, saying, "I had a modest dinner with chief prosecutors of the criminal divisions in the metropolitan area who can represent the voices of prosecutors quietly handling civil cases," leaving this intention in writing.

Minister Choo wrote, "The criminal division mostly struggles with handling police-transferred cases rather than recognized cases," adding, "In the prosecution organizational culture that has valued elites such as special investigation units, criminal division cases were not considered major cases, so I heard there was little content to use for service evaluations, which made me think that the service evaluation system should be reasonably improved."

She continued, "(The criminal division) has had a lot of work but has not received much attention and was overshadowed by the recognized departments even in awards and commendations," adding, "It was a meeting where we shared the vision of future prosecutors who specialize in the criminal division and act as human rights controllers."

A Ministry of Justice official commented, "It seems to be a personal reflection left after the dinner," and added, "Since Minister Choo has often voiced the need to strengthen the criminal division, there is a possibility that the SNS post could lead to policy directives."

Improving the prosecution service evaluation system has been an issue the Ministry of Justice has shown willingness to pursue since former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's tenure. In September last year, former Minister Cho instructed the Ministry’s Prosecution Bureau and the Prosecution Reform Support Group to "prepare and implement specific measures to gather opinions from prosecution members on improving the prosecution organizational culture and service evaluation system."

Earlier, on the 12th, Minister Choo had dinner with chief prosecutors of criminal divisions from frontline prosecution offices in the metropolitan area.

At the dinner, eight newly appointed criminal division chiefs from 20 metropolitan prosecution offices attended.

Minister Choo listened to their suggestions regarding prosecution reform, measures to strengthen the criminal division, and difficulties faced.

Since the criminal division chiefs are responsible for investigating crimes directly related to the daily lives of the public, it is known that she also asked for their views on measures to respond to crimes affecting the public.

There were reportedly no particular discussions on sensitive issues such as the launch of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials or the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police.

A Ministry of Justice official stated, "Minister Choo urged prosecution members to gather vivid experiences and wisdom from the frontline so that they can find fulfillment in their work and maintain pride, and to work together as agents of reform."

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