"Prosecutor General Authority Reduction" Legal and Prosecutorial Reform Committee to Issue Recommendation This Afternoon

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Ministry of Justice's Legal and Prosecution Reform Committee is expected to issue a recommendation on the 27th to reduce the powers of the Prosecutor General, drawing significant attention.

The Reform Committee announced that it will hold a meeting at the Government Complex Gwacheon under the Ministry of Justice in the afternoon to review and approve the 21st recommendation containing such content.

On this day, the Reform Committee will discuss key agenda items including ▲the decentralization of the Prosecutor General's specific investigative command authority ▲improvements to the procedure for expressing opinions on prosecutor personnel appointments ▲diversification of the Prosecutor General's appointment process.

The Reform Committee is reportedly viewing the frequent clashes between Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over investigative matters as stemming from the concentration of authority in the Prosecutor General.

Although the Prosecutor General is granted independent investigative command authority to maintain political neutrality, there are either no checks and balances or they are not functioning properly.

Additionally, the Reform Committee will gather opinions on transparent improvements to the procedure by which the Prosecutor General can submit opinions to the Ministry of Justice regarding prosecutor personnel appointments.

Furthermore, it is reported that the committee will discuss measures to allow individuals who are not currently serving prosecutors to be appointed as Prosecutor General.

Article 27 of the current Prosecutors' Office Act stipulates that the qualifications for appointment as Prosecutor General include judges, prosecutors, or lawyers, but in practice, Prosecutor Generals have mostly been appointed from among prosecutors.

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