Kim Young-dae, Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief, "Police Autonomy Must Be Guaranteed, but Prosecutors Should Not Be Prevented from Approaching the Truth"

"Prosecutor's Investigation Scope Regulation Limits Are a Dangerous Idea"
"Truth Can Be Hidden Temporarily but Not Forever"

Kim Young-dae, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, is delivering his retirement speech at the retirement ceremony held at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on the morning of the 7th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Kim Young-dae, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office (age 57, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 22), expressed concerns on the 7th in his retirement speech about the government's push to adjust investigative authority between the prosecution and the police, which would eliminate the prosecution's oversight function over the police.

At the retirement ceremony held at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building that morning, Chief Prosecutor Kim stated, "While guaranteeing the autonomy of the police, the prosecution must be allowed to intervene," adding, "The prosecution should not be prevented from even approaching the truth or correcting any wrongdoings."

He said, "Currently, follow-up legislation regarding the adjustment of investigative authority is being drafted," and emphasized, "We must create a system that allows the truth to be revealed."

He continued, "It is clear that there have been mistakes by the prosecution in the past, and we must deeply reflect on them, but creating a new system is a different matter," stressing the point.

Chief Prosecutor Kim emphasized, "From the perspective of human rights protection, (prosecution's intervention) is absolutely necessary," and added, "There must not be a serious gap in the discovery of truth."

He said, "Systems related to judiciary and investigation should be created with utmost caution and meticulousness," and stated, "It is best to establish a rational and balanced system, and not one biased toward one side."

He further remarked, "Investigation is said to be a living organism," and stressed, "The government's proposed regulation on the scope of investigation is a very dangerous idea and an obstacle that blocks the truth."

Chief Prosecutor Kim said, "I believe the criminal justice system, once established, should last for 100 years," and expressed, "Regardless of interests, I sincerely hope a system that will be remembered in history for the country and the people will be created."

Concluding his 27 years and 4 months as a prosecutor since March 1993, he reflected on his memories from his time as a frontline prosecutor, saying, "I learned a lot here at the prosecution about how to seek the truth, how to handle cases, how to treat people, and even how to live life."

Chief Prosecutor Kim recalled, "When I was head of the Advanced Crime Investigation Division 2 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, I investigated the hacking of the NongHyup computer network, and the moment it was revealed to be the work of North Korea, my heart raced. Also, when I was the first deputy chief at the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, I received a call from lead prosecutor Dan Seong-han, who said they had caught the second-in-command who fled to China in connection with the Jo Hee-pal case. Those moments made my heart beat faster," and added, "Ultimately, prosecutors feel the greatest joy and fulfillment at the moment they uncover the truth."

He also recalled his time working as head of the Information and Communications Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office during Prosecutor General Kim Jun-gyu's tenure, where he introduced a video conferencing system and oversaw the opening of KICS in 2007.

Chief Prosecutor Kim said, "Although I feel a great sense of regret leaving the prosecution, I also feel relieved," and added, "It is true that there are many concerns about various current issues, but I believe that by pooling wisdom and capabilities, the crisis will be overcome well."

He seemed to be aware of the prosecution's recent difficult circumstances, saying, "In times of crisis, the most important thing is the truth," and added, "If the truth is surely revealed and handled accordingly, controversies related to it can be subdued."

He continued, "There is a saying that the truth can be hidden temporarily but never forever," and emphasized, "If we approach with a firm will to definitely reveal the truth, the truth will be uncovered."

At the end of his retirement speech, Chief Prosecutor Kim was seen wiping away tears.

He concluded his speech by saying, "I loved the prosecution. I am proud to have been a prosecutor. The happiest times were when I was called Prosecutor Kim Young-dae, Prosecutor Kim."

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